The John Tesh Blog

What's the difference between getting further into debt, and living a life of wealth? Not as much as you might think.

Jean Chatzky is one woman who believes, even in the toughest economic times (as all of us are experiencing; some more than others) that anyone can prosper…if they possess key traits and abilities that will set them apart. She calls these traits, and her new book, The Difference, and describes how you can go from the person who lives paycheck to paycheck to the person who lives in comfort.

Do you have The Difference? And, if not—how can you get it? Jean shares the eight things that matter most to help you become financially free.

Happiness and Optimism

Some people believe money leads to happiness. Not true. Once you're living comfortably, more money doesn't buy more happiness. The reverse, however, is true: Happiness leads to money. And success. Likewise, so does optimism. Both empower you to solve problems, create new ideas, take long-range consequences into consideration and come back to try again if you miss the first time.

Resilience

People who have moved from a bad financial situation into comfort or wealth have resilience. They can overcome—on the job, in their personal lives, with their finances. They don't deny the bad things that happen, but they're able to turn their focus to things over which they have control with the belief that they have the ability to effect change. The good news is you don't have to be born with resilience—you can learn it by controlling the things you can control and letting go of the others.

Connectedness 

Ever heard of social capital? It's the asset created when relationships between people change in ways that lead to action, generally for good. It's an important component of The Difference, and the wealthy and financially comfortable not only have more of it than people living paycheck to paycheck, they know how to use it. They cast a wider net, socializing with neighbors, co-workers, people who can help them advance financially or in their careers. To get your share of social capital, you have to make time for people and put yourself forward as a leader.

Passion

This is a key element that moves people from a life of financial struggle to one of financial success. The wealthy, simply put, want it more than the rest of that. Some want it in the form of money, but most are quite passionate about the careers they choose to pursue. And, at a time where doing what you love may not seem possible, it's important to know you can learn to love what you're doing- right here, and right now.

Intuition

Over the years, your brain has scored up scads of patterns, information that tells you that if one thing happens, something else is likely to follow. We feel these signals in our gut—and we call them hunches. They are really our intuition, a sixth sense that is more developed in the wealthy than in anyone else. You can learn to bring yours forward by adopting strategies like giving your intuition a little room to breathe: Jean herself says she has the best moments of "enlightenment" when she's not searching for them.

Make savings your new, "got to" habit

The wealthy people in Chatzky's study certainly have the funds to be crazy spenders, but most aren't. Both wealthy and financially comfortable individuals say that saving more money has been an "absolutely essential" financial goal as an adult.

Invest in stocks

Jean did the research for The Difference when housing prices were cratering and the markets were falling out of the sky. Yet, one lesson emerged again and again: The wealthy understand the need to take risks in the market—in good times and in bad—in order to make their money work as hard as they do.

Gratitude

The Karma Kickback. The people who get rich—and stay rich—are not just grateful. They practice gratitude by giving back to their communities, to organizations they believe in and the people they care about. (Your place of worship may call it 'tithing.') Even if you are thinking of something you view as mundane—like your job—when you think about it as a gift, you focus on what life might be if you didn't have it.

Can you see The Difference in your life today? Tomorrow? As long as you see it, you'll live it.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Worried? Many of us are. Tired of it? You bet. Here's how to cope.

Money worries...you're sick of it! We all are, to whatever degree: whether it's the stress of not enough of your own money, a family member's troubles, or simply feeling the heartache of sympathy for so many in our country today struggling to make ends meet- it's hard, and there is a name for it: money anxiety disorder- the latest American epidemic (the acronym, conveniently, would be MAD.)

According to a survey in October by the American Psychological Association, 80 percent of us find the recent financial crisis a significant cause of stress—up from 66 percent last April—and women are bearing the brunt of the worry, reporting greater concern over job stability and health problems affecting their families, for example, than men are. "Money is a safety net, as in, 'I may not be able to count on people, but I can count on my cash,'" says the APA's public education coordinator for Pennsylvania, David Palmiter, PhD. "Now the thinking's gone to: 'There's nothing between me and the abyss.'"

You can find plenty of advice from financial experts on how to cope. But what about the pervasive sense of panic, which can take a serious toll on health, putting you at higher risk for a host of ailments from high blood pressure to heart disease. Science has shown that exercise and meditation are two of the most effective ways to reduce stress—but you probably already know that, and likely feel too pressured to try either. Oprah.com asked a few experts for other strategies you might not have considered.

Try hypnosis:

For years people have turned to hypnosis for help quitting smoking and losing weight, but the technique is also becoming popular among business types desperate to overcome financial stress, according to a November report in The Wall Street Journal. Generally, in hypnosis, a therapist uses verbal cues to put clients into a deeply relaxed state, where they become absorbed in their inner thoughts, then offers suggestions to shift an attitude so they can better tackle a problem. In this case, the suggestions might be "Money is energy that comes and goes" or "Your net worth doesn't equal your personal worth," to deflect the paralysis and insecurity that financial panic can cause. Ideally, clients learn the process on their own.

"Hypnosis is very similar to meditation," explains Dwight Damon, president of the National Guild of Hypnotists, who recommends trying a professional session before using the method on yourself. "While it won't make you richer, it will help you handle, and feel better about, the money you do have."

Treat yourself- NOW??

Yes! To lower financial stress, set a budget for each day and reward yourself, suggests Alvin Hall, a financial commentator on BBC TV and radio and author of You and Your Money: Mastering the Emotions Behind the Numbers. "Ask yourself: 'What is the one thing I can do that will give me the longest-lasting uplift for the least amount of money?'" During the economic downturn of 1987, Hall's treat was blackberry pie. "I'd think about it all day, and if I came in under my budget," he says, "I'd go order a slice. When I couldn't afford that, I'd visit the museum and look at Van Gogh paintings."

Become a manicurist for a friend.

Or exchange massages with your partner. According to Robert Sapolsky, PhD, professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University, who has studied wild baboons for 30 years, primates groom each other to reduce stress—and the effect seems to be more powerful for the one who is doing the primping.

Take up knitting...and you might come up with a blanket!

According to research at the Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, the repetitive motion and focus of needlework can elicit what's known as the relaxation response—a calming meditation-like state that slows heart rate and causes blood pressure to drop. In addition, a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that knitting is associated with a lower risk of dementia for those 65 and older.

See a bigger picture, or that forest through the trees.

During the Great Depression, "stress took the form of personal shame," according to historian David M. Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929–1945. His own father, he says, had "what we would call a nervous breakdown." Kennedy observes that a much healthier and more resilient attitude for our times is: "Taking some responsibility but seeing this downturn more as a systemic failure and not a personal one."

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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7 steps to take this month in your job search

Maybe it's a little extra income for the holidays you're looking for, or maybe you fell prey to an economic driven layoff from your old job. It might be a case of kids well on their own way, and you feel ready, at last, to re-enter the workforce. No matter where your job  search falls right now, though- here is a new month, full of possibilities, and 7 specific things you can do this month to get yourself back on your feet, from Jean Chatsky, career and money expert for Oprah.com.

Ask anyone with a great job how they got where they are, and you'll probably hear that they got very lucky. But successful job hunters make their own luck with hard work and lots of preparation. You can use the strategies below to make sure you've got the essential ingredients for a fruitful job search—a killer résumé and sharp interviewing skills. Looking to help your kids find a good summer job? We've got some advice for that, too, and now's the time to prepare for the end of the school year.

Create a Killer Résumé
Your résumé is your chance to make a great first impression. That single piece of paper (or, these days, that one e-mail attachment) will determine whether or not you get an interview. Dust off an old copy and add any new experience or skills that you've acquired since you last looked for a job. If you've been out of the workforce, consider adding any volunteer work you've done or classes you've taken that have helped you hone in on an existing skill or learn a new one.

Share a copy of your updated résumé with your friends and family, and get their input on how you can make it sharper and more compelling. Pay special attention to the questions they members ask. If you find you need to explain or amplify a certain item, it may mean it isn't as clearly written as it could be.

Practice Interviewing
You may think that the best interviewees think quickly on their feet and come up with smart, insightful answers (and they do), but for most of us, interviewing is like playing a musical instrument—it takes plenty of practice. Setting up informational interviews with former colleagues, acquaintances and friends of friends in industries you're interested in is a great way to polish your interviewing skills. So is role playing with friends.

Before you head into an interview, tell your family who you'll be interviewing with and what you know about them and the company they works for. Have members take turns asking you questions they think your potential new boss will have on their list. After you answer, ask for feedback on what you could have done better. By the time you get through that exercise, the actual interview will be a piece of cake!

Susan Strayer, a career coach and author of The Right Job, Right Now, suggests job hunters create an inventory of stories that they can rely on during an interview. Think of several successful projects you've completed, times you've taken an important role in your employer's success and praises you've received from bosses or clients, and be ready to briefly retell those experiences at the appropriate moment.

Help Your Child Get a Summer Job
If you have a high school or college-age child who's looking for summer work, he or she will need a sharp résumé and good interviewing skills. To help them find leads for great summer jobs, don't forget your local network of family members, friends and teachers, says Randall Hansen, founder of Quintcareers.com, a website for young job seekers. In addition, have  your child check out websites such as CoolWorks.com, SummerJobs.com and  ResortJobs.com, all of which list lots of temporary positions at resorts and summer camps throughout the country.

Create a Network
Think of your friends as an instant job-hunting network that can provide ideas, advice and contacts you need. Then, branch out to family and former colleagues, says Robin Ryan. Tell everyone you know you're on the hunt and ask them for names of acquaintances that might be able to help you. Go on as many informational interviews as you can possibly manage. True, there may be no openings, but you'll have made an in for when a position is available. The person you're interviewing with may very well know others in their industry that you should also talk to. Plus, you'll brush up your interviewing skills.

Target Your Search
Although it's tempting to answer dozens of want ads and send your résumé to everyone you know, the quality of your applications, not the quantity, is what will get you results, says Robin Ryan. "You can spend 20 or 25 hours a week looking for a job—after that you're wasting your time," she adds.

Determine the industries and businesses you're most interested in (and best qualified for) ahead of time and concentrate on those contacts and openings first. Remember, targeting also means adding a personal touch. Always send a well-tailored cover letter with your résumé—no form letters or mass mailings.

Use the Internet Wisely
Sites like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com can give you a great sense of what types of openings are available and what kind of salary range you can expect. And, it certainly can't hurt to answer ads that appeal to you. But answering blind ads shouldn't be the bulk of your search, says Susan Strayer. So often you hear nothing back. Posting your résumé on these sites can also be a waste of time. Better to look for openings on the websites of companies and industry associations that you're interested in.

Be Patient

It generally takes three to six months for people to find a job, says Robin Ryan. The wait can be frustrating, but the process gives you a chance to really evaluate what kind of job is right for you. Devote yourself to this process as though it is your full time job; find a way to network (which might mean finding a way to volunteer your way into networking, temporarily); rest, and treat yourself to some daily exercise (since you do have, for the time being- the time to give to it.

And- have a wonderful Monday; welcome to November!

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.

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.

Keep your job search UP, in an economy that's DOWN.

Remember back when you were still in school? Your career? Well, easy enough- there's a job just about anywhere you looked! And if, for whatever reason, you didn't like the job; they didn't like you...whatever (say, that can be a really annoying word)- there's always another one around the corner, right? Hmm...not so much the case in the last couple of years, is it?

If you're searching for a job when the economy is down, understand that you need to boost your job-hunting skills, author Richard Bolles says. "Jobs do open up; jobs do fall vacant—maybe not in your former specialty, maybe not even in your geographical area, but nonetheless there are jobs out there, even during hard times," he says. "It just takes greater job-hunting skills to find them."

Richard, author of What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, shares advice on how to search for a job and have a good interview when economic times are tough.

To develop better job-hunting skills, start by assuming that the task of finding a new job is yours, Richard says. "You are in charge," he says. "Don't wait for the government—or anyone else—to come and save you."

Have the willingness to work hard at your job hunt. "Don't just give it 'a lick and a promise' and then give up," Richard says. "Working hard means putting in time—lots of time. This also means using more than one job-hunting method to find those jobs that are out there."

Take the time to do an inventory on yourself, Richard says. Make a list of what you have to offer to the marketplace. If you think you know yourself so well that you don't need to do this kind of homework on yourself, think again, he says.

Update your knowledge. "Go beyond what you learned about the job hunt back in high school or, worse, out 'on the street,'" Richard says. "The job hunt is one of the most studied human activities there is. You've just got to familiarize yourself with that research. The life you save will be your own."

Research the specific position. If you do this before you go on the interview, you'll be able to talk about why the job interests you, Richard says. Also, ask about what kinds of skills the job demands. Try to talk about how you have those skills and experience. "In the old days, it was sufficient for you just to claim certain skills; now, in what are called 'behavioral interviews,' employers want you to give evidence," Richard says. "You should do this in the form of a story, or stories, which have the framework: problem, action, results."

Gauge how well the interview is going. You can tell if an interview is going well by watching the time sequence of the employer's questions, Richard says. If the interviewer's questions stay rooted in the past, like "Tell me what you've done," then things have not gone well, he says. If the questions end up being mostly rooted in the present, for example, "What are your favorite hobbies," things are going better, Richard says. Only when they end up being firmly rooted in the future, like, "Where do you see yourself five years from now?" can you assume the interview is going very well, he says.

End the interview appropriately. If you decide you're definitely interested in the job and the interview has gone well, Richard says to end the interview by asking, "Based on all that we've talked about, can you offer me this job?" "The worst they can say is 'No' or 'Not yet,'" he says. "But it's amazing how often that closing question of yours turns the interviewer from 'I'll call you next week' to 'Yes, I do want to offer it to you—when could you start?'"

So when can you start...with a refreshed and positive look toward the job you want? Today? Absolutely. Enjoy your 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.

Overlooked signs of cancer that I don't want YOU to overlook.

Look, I don’t want to put the fear of cancer in you, but some warning signs are often overlooked. As reported in recent months, more people than ever are avoiding going to the doctor for check-ups, or for what they consider to be minor problems because of insurance difficulties, or necessary financial belt tightening.  But there are some health issues you simply must not skimp on when it comes to paying money to see a doctor. Strongly consider seeing a doctor if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, especially more than one. These are from Caring.com, an online resource that focuses on health issues we may experience as we age.

Routine tests like pap smears and mammograms are important, but don't rely on tests alone to protect you from cancer. It's just as important to listen to your body and notice anything that's different, odd, or unexplainable. You don't want to join the ranks of cancer patients who realize too late that symptoms they'd noticed for a long time could have sounded the alarm earlier, when cancer was easier to cure.

1. Wheezing or shortness of breath

One of the first signs lung cancer patients remember noticing when they look back is the inability to catch their breath. "I couldn't even walk across the yard without wheezing; I thought I had asthma, but how come I didn't have it before?" is how one woman described it.

2. Chronic cough or chest pain

Several types of cancer, including leukemia and lung tumors, can cause symptoms that mimic a bad cough or bronchitis. One way to tell the difference: The problems persist, or go away and come back again in a repeating cycle. Some lung cancer patients report chest pain that extends up into the shoulder or down the arm.

3. Frequent fevers or infections

These can be signs of leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells that starts in the bone marrow. Leukemia causes the marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy white cells, sapping the body's infection-fighting capabilities. Often, doctors finally catch leukemia in older adults after the patient has been in a number of times complaining of fever, achiness, and flu-like symptoms over an extended period of time.

4. Difficulty swallowing

This is most commonly associated with esophageal or throat cancer, but having trouble swallowing is sometimes one of the first signs of lung cancer, too.

5. Swollen lymph nodes or lumps on the neck, underarm, or groin

Enlarged lymph nodes indicate changes in the lymphatic system, which can be a sign of cancer. For example, a lump or an enlarged lymph node under the arm is sometimes a sign of breast cancer. A painless lump on the neck, underarm, or groin can be an early sign of leukemia.

6. Excessive bruising or bleeding that doesn't stop

This symptom usually suggests something abnormal happening with the platelets and red blood cells, which can be a sign of leukemia. One woman with leukemia described bruising in strange places, such as on her fingers and hands, as well as red spots on her face, neck, and chest. Another noticed bleeding gums. The explanation: Over time, leukemia cells crowd out red blood cells and platelets, impairing the blood's ability to carry oxygen and clot.

7. Weakness and fatigue

"I kept having to sit down at work, and one night I was too tired to drive home," said one woman in describing the fatigue that led her to discover she had leukemia. Generalized fatigue and weakness is a symptom of so many different kinds of cancer that you'll need to look at it in combination with other symptoms. But any time you feel exhausted without explanation and it doesn't respond to getting more sleep, talk to your doctor.

8. Bloating or abdominal weight gain -- the "my jeans don't fit" syndrome

While this might sound too common a phenomenon to be considered a cancer symptom, consider this: Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer overwhelmingly report that unexplained abdominal bloating that came on fairly suddenly and continued on and off over a long period of time (as opposed to for a few days each month with PMS) is one of the main ways they knew something was wrong.

9. Feeling full and unable to eat

This is another tip-off to ovarian cancer; women say they have no appetite and can't eat, even when they haven't eaten for some time. Any woman who experiences noticeable bloating or weight gain numerous times (the diagnostic criteria is more than 13 times over the period of a month) -- especially if it's accompanied by pelvic pain or feeling overly full -- should call her doctor and ask for a pelvic ultrasound.

10. Pelvic or abdominal pain

Taken by itself, pelvic pain can mean a lot of things. In fact, because it's a common symptom of fibroids, ovarian cysts, and other reproductive tract disorders, doctors don't always think of cancer when you describe pelvic pain. Make sure your doctor looks at all possible explanations and does a full exam, since pain and cramping in the pelvis and abdomen can go hand in hand with the bloating that often signals ovarian cancer. Leukemia can also cause abdominal pain resulting from an enlarged spleen.

11. Rectal bleeding or blood in stool

"I thought it was hemorrhoids" is one of the most common things doctors hear when diagnosing colorectal cancer. Blood in the toilet alone is reason to call your doctor and schedule a colonoscopy.

12. Unexplained weight loss

If you notice the pounds coming off and you haven't made changes to your diet or exercise regime, you need to ask why. Weight loss is an early sign of colon and other digestive cancers; it's also a sign of cancer that's spread to the liver, affecting your appetite and the ability of your body to rid itself of wastes.

13. Upset stomach or stomachache

As simple as it sounds, a good old-fashioned bellyache is what tipped off a number of lucky folks, whose doctors ordered ultrasounds and discovered early that they had tumors on their livers. Stomach cramps or frequent upset stomachs may indicate colorectal cancer; many cancer patients say their doctors thought they had ulcers.

14. A red, sore, or swollen breast

Everyone knows to check for lumps in the breasts, but too often overlooked are symptoms closer to the surface, which can indicate inflammatory breast cancer. Some women described noticing cellulite-like dimpled skin on an area of the breast. Others noticed that a breast felt swollen, hot, or irritated. Red or purplish discoloration is also cause for concern. Call your doctor about any unexplained changes to your breasts.

15. Nipple changes

One of the most common changes women remember noticing before being diagnosed with breast cancer is a nipple that began to appear flattened, inverted, or turned sideways. "My nipple started looking like it was turned inside out," said one woman. In addition, inflammatory breast cancer also causes nipple problems, such as itchy, scaly, or crusty skin on the nipple -- so take any nipple changes seriously.

16. Unusually heavy or painful periods or bleeding between periods

Many women reported this as the tip-off to endometrial or uterine cancer. Unfortunately, many women also said their doctors weren't responsive, overlooking or misdiagnosing their complaints as normal perimenopause. Ask for a transvaginal ultrasound if you suspect something more than routine heavy periods.

17. Swelling of facial features

Some patients with lung cancer report noticing puffiness, swelling, or redness in the face. The explanation for this is that small cell lung tumors commonly block blood vessels in the chest, preventing blood from flowing freely from the head and face.

18. A sore or skin lump that doesn't heal, becomes crusty, or bleeds easily

Most of us know to watch moles for changes that might indicate skin cancer. But other signs, such as small waxy lumps or dry scaly patches, are easier to miss. Familiarize yourself with the different types of skin cancer -- melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma -- and be vigilant about checking skin all over the body for odd-looking growths or spots.

19. Changes in nails

Unexplained changes to the fingernails can be a sign of several types of cancer. A brown or black streak or dot under the nail can indicate skin cancer, while newly discovered "clubbing" -- enlargement of the ends of the fingers, with nails that curve down over the tips -- can be a sign of lung cancer. Pale or white nails can be an indication that your liver is not functioning properly, sometimes a sign of liver cancer.

20. Pain in the back or lower right side

As vague as this sounds, many cancer patients say this was the first sign of liver cancer, known as one of the "silent killers" (another is ovarian cancer). Breast cancer is also often diagnosed via back pain, which can occur when a breast tumor presses backward into the chest, or when the cancer spreads to the spine or ribs.

This list does not mean you have cancer.  This list means if you recognize yourself in one or more of these possible signs to watch out for, being PROactive is the way to go, and you should talk to a doctor to rule something out, at least.

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.

Ready for October? Here's our challenge!

Summertime has passed- we're settling into our newfound Autumn, aren't we? September is nearly gone! October is just around the corner- Thursday!- and with the beginning of October, I've got an idea to throw out to you- ready?  How about a 30 day challenge- beginning Thursday- to not spend money.  Wait a minute- before you tune out- I mean it. It's what personal-finance experts call a no-spend month. Also called a buy-nothing month, it's a 30-day period of superfrugality in which you cut out all extras, buy only basic necessities and spend as little money as possible.

With families facing so much economic uncertainty, it's more crucial than ever to beef up your emergency fund and pay off debt.

A no-spend month can be an effective short-term strategy to pad your savings account, free up extra money to tackle your debt, realign your spending with your values and generally cut financial fat.

Take this example: a Texas family decided to limit all family spending for food, entertainment, fuel and clothing- anything not a regular monthly bill such as a mortgage or car payment- to $250, when they normally spend $350 a month on groceries alone.

This family did it by cooking all meals from scratch, using basic fresh ingredients and food from their pantry, running multiple errands on each car trip, and walking instead of driving whenever possible. Instead of lunch out from the office every day, they also took up brown bagging lunch every day.

This could be an eye-opening experiment for you! Instead of out heading out shopping or doing things that cost money, you may find more free time to take a closer look at your regular monthly bills.  Now's the time to find your inner creativity, friend, by relying heavily on your pantry for meals. Use washable rags instead of paper towels, make your own laundry detergent or floor cleaner (vinegar and water works wonders!) and try using inexpensive homemade alternatives to household cleaners- how much vinegar do you have, and make sure to have a good supply beforehand of baking soda!)

"Anyone can do anything for 30 days," says MSN Money personal-finance columnist Liz Pulliam Weston, the author of "Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life."  Liz estimates that a 30-day spending diet could save families an average of $400 and put them in a better position should a job loss or other calamity occur. "If you do this, you have taught yourself what your (financial) weaknesses are, and you have already experienced the difference between a need and a want," Weston says.

If you want to try your hand at 30 days of superfrugality, there are several ways to structure your month of not spending.

• Set a dollar figure for spending for the month and stick to it.
• Cut out all luxuries without setting a dollar limit.
• Combine a 30-day short-term spending diet with an effort to boost your income.

Like our example family, you could give yourself a set budget for the month and then try to fit all household purchases into that budget. Recurring monthly bills, such as your mortgage, student loan, car payments, utility bills and credit card bills are excluded from this amount.

The limited-budget approach can require creativity.

How can you spend only $1 on entertainment for the entire month? How about recent issues of your favorite magazine- normally a big impulse by while you're waiting in line at the grocery store- at a fraction of the price at a local thrift store?  Looking for dinner that very night? Look for lower-cost alternatives to meat to stretch your grocery dollars- a markdown of a good quality meat, bulked up with lots of in-season produce.

The second approach to the 30-day spending fast is to forgo the set-dollar-amount budget and simply cut out all luxuries instead. In this case, money can only be spent on necessities.

Weston, herself, took the challenge in 2006, by buying only necessities, and seeing the things she and her husband were spending money on that they didn't need to.  For instance, previously, if she had 15 minutes between meetings, she would fill the time by buying a cup of coffee. And though she rarely bought new clothes for herself, Weston didn't think twice about outfitting her toddler daughter with new duds. "It surprised me how much of my spending was automatic."

The key to making the second option effective is to dig deep to determine what is a luxury and what is truly a necessity, says Harrine Freeman, the author of "How to Get Out of Debt: Get an 'A' Credit Rating for Free."

Of course, this will vary from family to family, but, in general, recurring bills, gas and groceries would be considered necessities while lattes, restaurant meals and new shoes would definitely be off-limits.

The third option is to combine a 30-day spending diet with an effort to boost your income. That can be as simple as cleaning out your attic or basement and selling everything on eBay or Craigslist, Freeman says. "You can use what you save and what you earn to pay down debt or create an emergency fund."

No matter which route you choose, a month of minimal spending can lead to a real, workable and long-term household budget and spur you to permanently cut the fat from your spending.

A 30-day spending diet can be a valuable precursor to a budget you might actually stick to because "at the end of the month, there is a very real, tangible financial benefit. You can actually see how much you saved," says Brad Stroh, a co-founder of Bills.com. "It gives you a sense of empowerment and control over your money that can lure you into the game."

Superslim budgets with no room for fun, though, are doomed to fail. The goal is not to cut out all sources of joy in your life, it's to spend only on the things and experiences that are truly important to you, might improve your life, things you use and enjoy a lot, and that will give you a great internal lift- not just a momentary lift.

You might just be amazed how little (money) you can live on once you have some experience in spending very little.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Labor Day- facts to share

Today is Labor Day.  It's a day to commemorate an end of Summer, a beginning of another school year, and if you've got a parade, a picnic or a festival lined up today- Hooray!  It is, also, a national holiday to celebrate the American worker.  Today's celebration of Labor Day is, no doubt, ironic for some; frustrating for many.  For millions, it's a day just like any other, with no job from which to receive this paid holiday, and few opportunities looming on the horizon.  Indeed, countless workers today, while grateful for the job they have, still suffer stress and worry about the security of their employment.  No one is unaware of the challenging times our country is facing, from the burst of the housing bubble to an economic turndown that has seen a jobless rate nearing 10%.  Fifteen million Americans are without jobs, and employment forecasters don't see a quick return to previous employment levels for several years to come, though our economy is showing signs of a slow repair.  Wow.  What's to celebrate?  Plenty.  We are a country created and supported by visionary leaders and citizens, and a country populated today by people who still believe in, and work to maintain, those core principles.  This Labor Day may hold its share of irony, but I want to put my hope in a future where there is great reason for all to celebrate "the American worker" in years to come. 

So how, exactly, did we see the beginning of Labor Day?  The U.S. Department of Labor provides this history:

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

And it is appropriate to hold out hope that if you are searching for a job this Labor Day, that you'll be celebrating your status as an American worker long before our next Labor Day.

Happy Monday to you-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Think there's no way to create your own emergency fund? Could be time for you to simply "re-think" your options!

Got low earnings and no financial cushion?  Can't spare hundreds of dollars a month? Join the club. And find out for yourself that you can nickel-and-dime your way into a comfortable cash cushion, with loads of tips and ideas collected by Peggy Freedman for MSN Money.

Personal-finance experts advise having three to 12 months' worth of living expenses socked away.  That can be overwhelming, even downright scary, especially to folks who could be facing financial crisis already!  Even saving the $500 that MSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston suggests may seem impossible.

If you're in a low-earning job, it can seem like a futile effort to find your way to that elusive emergency fund.  But here is where a little faith, optimism, with a pinch of creativity tossed in, can help you inch your way there.  Can you squeak out $10 a month from your pay?  Then, my friend, that's where you start. If not, read on.  We're not giving up yet!

Let's start with your spare change

This includes every penny, nickel, dime or quarter you get throughout a week, and into a jar it goes. (Don't forget to double check pockets before laundry time, and the change that seems to find its way into the couch cushions!) How about collecting cans or bottles throughout the week and selling them, rather than tossing them into your trashcan? You can add to your plan a little more at a time by banking the occasional manufacturer's rebate.

'You can sleep at night'
There are articles aplenty offering great advice about saving big bucks- they may, or may not, provide a solution for your needs.  Some of these bigger ticket tips could be taking a second job, selling a second car in the family, or, for the singles, getting a roommate splits many costs in half!  But just about anybody can shop online for better insurance rates or pick up pennies.

Having an emergency fund can give you a stronger peace of mind.  You can sleep at night knowing if you wake up the next day and something goes wrong -- a leak in the roof, a flat tire -- you can cover it.

Save something- anything- out of your paycheck

Let's get back to that idea of $10 per paycheck going into an emergency fund. Sure, it might be painful to start (I'm joking- saving for your financial safety will not cause you pain!), the easiest way to create the habit is to set up an automatic deposit- out of sight on payday, out of mind, and one more step closer to building your fund.  Place ridiculous rules on yourself for any withdrawal you make that is truly not an emergency- any cash out must be paid back 110% and with an additional 1% interest per month until it's reimbursed.  Stumble once, and with the extra payback and interest, you'll build your fund even faster.

An alternative for how much to save?  Save one hour's gross pay each payday, with your goal to add another hour's pay each month.

Still wondering how to start? Here are more ideas:

• Change your eating habits. Pack your lunch at least twice a week. Take the "pantry challenge": pack your lunches for an entire month from food in your pantry only. Have a meatless Monday. Then figure out what you would have spent and put that in the emergency fund.
• Trim your budget. The less you spend each month, the more you can put away. "Starting Over in NY" hangs clothes to dry and uses local roads instead of a toll highway. Reader M324292 shopped around for home insurance and the $198 she saved went into the fund. De la Pena gave up Diet Coke for a month -- "and I love my Diet Coke" -- in order to bank an extra $12.

• Sacrifice a little. Drop to basic cable for a while or drop cable altogether.  Nix Netflix and get films from a library or Redbox (which can be free on Mondays). Resolve to buy nothing nonessential for two months.

• Make the savings automatic. Usually that means direct deposit. Direct deposit might not be an option at your workplace' make out deposit slips in advance "with the amount already entered for my emergency fund."

• Save the money in a separate account. Funds mixed in a checking or savings account are too easy to spend. Some banks now offer cash incentives ($25 to $100) to open a checking account. You can transfer the money to an online bank later.

• Start a second income stream. This can be anything from creating scrapbook pages to sell on eBay or Craigslist, or any other trash to treasure items in your home.  Maybe you can earn a small sum for odd jobs at work, like buying supplies for the office.

• Save reimbursement checks. Does your workplace reimburse you for miles or meals? If you've already absorbed the cost, bank the check.

• Watch for "occasional" jobs. Can't work a regular part-time gig?  Find an irregular one. Put out the word that you're available to leaflet a neighborhood, throw phone books, defrag computers, walk dogs, rake leaves or clean garages.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Saying yes to back-to-school; no to impulsive back-to-school overspending

It's hard to say no- generally speaking, as parents, we don't want to say no.  You've probably been there- "Everyone has those jeans!" "I'll look stupid with this old phone!"  They wear us down!  But to the rescue- the support you need for staying your ground- here's some great "putting have to's in front of want to's" advice from makinglifebetter.com's Lian Dolan:

Before you hit the stores

Don’t make it about money; make it about responsibility. Think about it: even if you had all the money in the world, would you buy your daughter $250 jeans?  Probably not. Teach your children that the goal is to purchase what they really need, not what they simply want. Spending wisely and eliminating wasteful purchases is an earth-friendly, family-friendly policy. Use this shopping experience to establish good, lifelong financial habits. And don’t forget: be a role model yourself.

“Shop” at home first. Dig through desk drawers and closets, and you’ll probably discover half the items on your list: colored pencils, crayons, forgotten shorts, and books from older siblings. Throw last year’s backpack in the washer, add some cool patches from your summer travels, and voilá, new backpack! Money saved is money earned. The more you find at home, the more money you’ll get to spend on new items.

Delay, delay, delay. Wait a month to buy those gotta-have-it purchases, and the desire might just disappear. Ask your kids: Can you get one more season out of those cleats? Do you need the new sweater today when you won’t be able to wear it for months? How about that new phone for your birthday? Buy the minimum now and supplement later, if needed.

Checkout Lane Tactics

Stick with your budget. Obvious, but not always easy! Set a reasonable budget for the must-have purchases. For teens and older tweens, this may mean handing over a set amount of money for clothes or new electronics and letting them choose how to spend it. One designer item or several sale items?  Resale shop or department store? Give them the purchasing power, and let them live with their choices.  Look at it as providing an opportunity for natural consequences that don't really have the power to do any damage to your child, even if it doesn't take away his disappointment.  Expect more from your son or daughter!  You’ll be surprised at the thrift when it’s their money, or the ability to make better choices the next time around.

No negotiations. Once the budget is firm, no wheeling and dealing.  This, my sometimes weak-willed friend (we all are at times!) means that now's the time to remain firm. If you tend to cave, try a cash-only policy when shopping. That would be much better than simply promoting to your child that whining will eventually get them their own way.  And if the kids try to work that magic they have, that they’ll pay half for more expensive items, don’t agree unless they have the money on hand. No IOUs!

I do believe this:  you'll all be better off for setting limits, and sticking to them...hard as it may be to do when you son just has to have the turbo-charged backpack that doubles as an iPod charger.  Cool.