The John Tesh Blog

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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It's gonna cost how much? Parents of college age kids- saying that a lot these days?

Neither college students, nor the families they leave behind need to subsist on Top Ramen noodles for the next four years (ok, maybe five), but every student and family can trim college expenses, and we're getting a pretty good idea of just how, from Kiplinger's, to make it less painful...as the parent of a daughter looking ahead to college in the next few years, I like the sound of that. The College Board estimates that a moderate budget, including housing and transportation, but not tuition, will be $17,230 for a nine-month school year in 2009-2010, or $11,540 for a low budget. Housing accounts for 49% of those figures.

In a survey by Zogby, students and parents said car upkeep was their biggest expense other than tuition, books, and room and board. You'll save a bundle if your kids hoof it or buy a bus pass.

How to get the books 

Cars may cost more, but the price of textbooks is the most shocking expense to many. The College Board estimates students spend an average of $988 per year on books. To save money, students often share texts or use reserve library copies. The Internet is also fertile ground for textbook bargains. Before you start shopping, get the title, author and international standard book number (ISBN) of each book you need. Then head to sites such as Craigslist.org, eBay's Half.com and PIRG's CampusBookSwap.com. BigWords.com will search the Web for the best prices on textbooks.

Take a look at return policies before buying. Some sellers give a full refund if a book is returned within 30 days -- a boon if the student decides to drop the class. Keep in mind that textbook prices are highest online in August, September, January and February, according to Half.com. So if your kids know they will be taking a class the following semester, they should confirm the text with the professor and buy it online in mid-semester.

Sell gently used books

Students can recoup some money by selling their used books informally or online. But if they plan to do so, they should use their books gently, says Marie O'Malley, of Nellie Mae, the student loan-financing agency.

"Bookstores and students don't want books that are heavily marked, or that have torn pages or broken bindings."

Also keep in mind that college textbooks are updated frequently, so the faster you sell them, the more likely you are to find interested buyers.

Watch that cell bill

Cell phones have become near-necessities on college campuses, and most students use them extensively. One dad complained in the Zogby survey that the most shocking cost he encountered was "that darned cell-phone bill." To avoid surprises, compare cell-phone plans at sites such as BillSaver.com and MyRatePlan.com. And check sites such as Cellreception.com to make sure there's good service on campus.

Some carriers entice students with special discounts or enhanced service.

Above all, let your kids know that if they exceed their plan's allotted minutes, they'll pay the extra charges.  And then stand your ground- we talked about being firm with the fam's budget a few weeks ago.  Have a great, safe, and relaxing weekend- Happy Labor Day!

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.

Hang on...am I younger now??

The science behind how nutrients repair and rejuvenate your body—and how long it takes to reap your healthy habit rewards comes to us from Prevention magazine.  How about taking science up on the challenge that it has confirmed certain nutrients in our food can slow down and even reverse aging?  Sound good? Here's exactly how and when you can expect the health payoff you want:

 

Beat Stress

 

Vitamin B6 deficiency has been linked to anxiety, stress, and depression, and women are more likely to become deficient in B6 as they age, according to researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. "When B6 makes its way to your brain, it facilitates synthesis of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, which makes you feel calm and happy," says Hanjo Hellmann, Ph.D., a plant biologist at Washington State University. "But if you have a B6 deficiency, your brain may not be able to make enough dopamine." The vitamin is found in a variety of foods, but it's especially high in potatoes, bananas, red meat, poultry, and chickpeas. Once eaten, B6 is quickly distributed throughout the body but isn't stored well, so we need a consistent daily supply. Hellmann recommends getting 1 to 2 mg of B6 every day—the amount in about one medium russet potato and a chicken breast—to help you produce enough stress-busting dopamine.

In Hours You Can ...

Prevent Cell Damage That Causes Cancer

 

Antioxidants, especially abundant in fruits and vegetables, are powerful compounds that cancel out cancer-causing free radicals before they damage cells. "Antioxidants begin working almost immediately upon absorption—as soon as they find a free radical to interact with," Hellmann says. But don't think you're set for the week after eating a big salad. Antioxidants remain active for only a few hours and need to be continually replenished. "Plus, they are a diverse group and don't all have the same functions," says Hellmann. "The key is always having plenty in your body to take on anything that comes along." That means eating as much produce as possible and mixing up the types as often as you can.

In 1 Week You Can ...

Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

 

Potassium supplements are an effective treatment for hypertension, but they can be dangerous for you as you age, according to the American Heart Association. Scientists at St. George's Hospital Medical School in London found that food sources of potassium are as effective as supplements in fighting high blood pressure—without side effects. The mineral is found in clams and in almost every fruit and vegetable but especially in potatoes, dried peaches, avocados and bananas. Study participants with high blood pressure ate 3,754 mg of potassium per day and lowered their blood pressure to prehypertension levels after just 1 week. "If you have normal kidneys, you'll use and excrete potassium within hours, which is why getting plenty of fruits and vegetables a day is so important—a steady stream of potassium will control your blood pressure," says Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D., of the American Dietetic Association. Just be sure to discuss dietary changes with your doctor if you're on blood pressure medications.

In 5 Weeks You Can ...

Boost Your Memory

 

An Australian study found that folate boosts memory in as little as 35 days. Women who participated in the study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, saw improved memory performance after taking 750 mcg of folate daily—that's about 1 cup of cooked spinach and 1 cup of cooked lentils. Though folate supplements (folic acid) are recommended during pregnancy to help prevent birth defects, you should otherwise get your folate from food, says Gerbstadt.

In 6 Weeks You Can ...

Lower Dangerous Homocysteine Levels

 

An analysis of 25 studies on B vitamins and homocysteine in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that taking 800 mcg of folate supplements daily for 6 to 8 weeks reduces homocysteine concentrations up to 23 percent. Don't exceed 1,000 mcg per day, however, or you could trigger symptoms of a B12 deficiency. Good food sources of folate are meat, fish, eggs and dairy.

In 2 Months You Can ...

Improve Heart Health

 

Omega-3s, essential fatty acids in which Americans are known to be deficient, have a wide range of impressive health benefits—from smoothing your skin and aiding weight loss to boosting your mood and minimizing the effects of arthritis. However, the ability of omega-3s, found in oily fish (like salmon, mackerel, and anchovies) and in plant sources (flaxseed, walnuts, and spinach), to prevent heart disease is perhaps best understood. Although some of the heart-health benefits kick in shortly after you digest your salmon, the effects won't last unless you eat these essential fatty acids consistently so that your body reaches a healthy saturation level, says Susan Raatz, Ph.D., R.D., an associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota: "If you are deficient in omega-3s and begin eating at least two 3-ounce servings of fatty fish a week, your heart will see significant benefits in four to eight weeks."

In 3 Months You Can ...

Fight Dementia

 

Omega-3s are also crucial to brain health and development, says Stephen Cunnane, Ph.D., an omega-3 expert at the University of Sherbrooke's Research Center for Aging in Quebec. Many studies have found that variations in Alzheimer's rates across countries can be predicted by the quantity of fish in the diet. A study published in Neuroscience Research found that patients with mild dementia improved their short-term memory after taking omega-3s daily for 3 months. Another recent study found that depressive feelings in suicidal patients diminished after taking 2.1 g of omega-3s daily for three months. A 3-ounce serving of wild salmon contains nearly 2 g of omega-3s.

In 1 Year You Can ...

Improve Your Vision

 

Lutein, a natural plant pigment known as a carotenoid, concentrates in the retina and lens to protect and strengthen your eyes. "Lutein is important to eye health," says Elizabeth Johnson, Ph.D., a scientist who studies vision at Tufts University. In a study conducted at North Chicago VA Medical Center, researchers found that patients with age-related macular degeneration improved in multiple measures of vision after taking 12 mg of lutein daily for a year. You can easily get that dose from food, particularly green leafy vegetables such as a half cup of cooked spinach, Johnson says. Other top sources of this antioxidant are peas, broccoli and corn.

In 1 Year You Can ...

Build Stronger Bones

 

Vitamin D allows your body to absorb the calcium needed to build stronger bones and reduce your risk of osteoporosis. An analysis of multiple vitamin D studies in JAMA found that a daily supplement of 700 to 800 IU of vitamin D combined with calcium reduces the risk of bone fractures by 26 percent after 2 years. D is found in fortified milk and cereals as well as in fish and eggs, yet supplements are generally accepted as safe.

Let's get started, by counting TODAY as Day One!

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 game plan for car shopping

To buy, or not to buy...a car.  Is that your question?  Well, there are many reasons to hang on to "old reliable", we've talked about this before, but maybe, just maybe the time is right.  Cash for Clunkers is now off the table, but recent news from the auto industry is pretty good, and there are some great deals available- if you've decided it's right for you.  There- that's one hurdle.  Now...the car salesman.  Look, they're people, too!  But a little extra ammo in the way of automobile purchasing is never a bad thing, and AOL lines it up, so you can be ready to go in a make a great deal on "new reliable"!

1. Greet the car salesman warmly.

Smile and shake his hand. Be friendly. You want him to like you so that he'll work harder for you.

2. Get his attention by telling him what he wants to hear.

Tell him: "I'll be buying a car very soon." If after this introduction, you find the salesman rude or unwilling to help you, ask to speak to his Sales Manager. Tell the manager that you'd like a more helpful salesman.

3. Tell the car salesman exactly what you want to see.

Be specific as possible. For example: "I'd like to see what you have in a compact car with automatic transmission and a window sticker price of around $18,000." If you're not sure what you want or you're confused by all the choices, then tell him those things that you know are important to you, such as: "I need a four-door car with lots of cargo space and a window sticker price of around $18,000."

Under the guise of trying to help you, the salesman is going to ask you lots of questions. Do not discuss your monthly payments with him.

Then turn the tables on him. Ask him questions about the cars, the dealership and his business. Play dumb and try to learn as much as you can. Get him to like you by pumping his ego: compliment him on what a good job he's doing.

4. Check out the vehicles that he shows you.

When he shows you a car that you like - and that fits your needs and budget - look it over. Do you like the styling of the car? Can you see yourself driving it?

5. If it is a new vehicle, look at the factory window sticker.

The factory window sticker tells you all about the car. Read it carefully because it contains a lot of important information.

The window sticker will give you the predicted gas mileage for both highway and city driving. It will also list all of the equipment that comes standard with the vehicle and then, in a separate column, the options that have been built into the car at the factory with the price of each listed. Look for an "equipment package," a group of discounted options.

At the bottom of the sticker will be the asking price for the vehicle called the "M.S.R.P." which stands for "Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price". Be sure that this price fits your budget.

Some dealerships add a second window sticker called a "Dealer Addendum" in an effort to widen their profit margin. If you see one of these stickers, ignore it for now.

6. Ask about other versions of the same car.

Most vehicles come in several different equipment levels usually designated by a letter code such as DX, SE or XL. You might be able to get the same car with the equipment you want on a less expensive version.

7. If you like the car, sit inside.

Is the interior comfortable? How does the interior "feel"?

8. Ask the salesman if you can test drive the car.

He'll be happy to take you for a test drive.

Notice what's happening here: you're allowing the car salesman to breeze right through the steps of his game plan. He wants you to test drive that car. He thinks he's doing great and that he's in total control. What he doesn't know is that you know exactly what you are doing. In fact, you are in complete control here.

9. Drive the vehicle as you normally would.

Don't "baby" the car. If you normally accelerate hard, then drive it that way. If you normally brake hard or corner fast, then do so. Try to drive on the types of roads you normally drive. Be sure to turn the air conditioning on and off to see how it affects the performance of the engine. And don't forget to ask lots of questions.

10. After the drive, ask the salesman for a brochure.

He'll probably ask you something like: "Is there anything we can do to earn your business today?" or "If I could sell you this $18,000 car for only $12,000, would you buy it today?"

You must be firm and clear. Tell him: "I really appreciate all of your help but, as I told you at the beginning, I'll be buying soon but not today. I simply want a brochure and some information. If I decide to buy this particular car, then I will certainly come back to see you."

If the car salesman is a good guy, he'll get you the brochure. If not, he may disappear and then return with the "Sales Manager" who may or may not be the real Sales Manager. In any case, this new guy may try to "reason" with you, persuade you, perhaps even pressure you to buy today. Again, you must be firm. Repeat to him what you told the salesman.

Don't forget that they are playing a game. And you know exactly what game they are playing. So don't fall for their lines. Don't fall for their come-ons. And don't fall for their intimidation. There's nothing personal about this. It's pure business. That's how they see it. That's how you should see it, too. And don't forget that you have the final say. If they pressure you, you can always walk away.

If they won't give you the brochures you want, no worries. You can always get them direct from the manufacturer.

11. Ask the car salesman more questions.

Ask about factory rebates, the factory warranty, dealership service, local sales taxes, license fees and so on. When you're satisfied that you have the information you need, ask the salesman for his business card.

12. Thank the salesman politely -- then leave!

Whatever happens, under any circumstances, don't buy a car yet.

What should you do next? AOL recommends doing more research on the vehicle you drove, comparing it to others in its class and giving yourself time to think about it. As much as it feels like that one car won't be around if you pass it up, there's always another car. Or, you may decide, after some time considering the deal away from the dealership, that this, indeed, is the right car, at the right price, at the right time, for you.  In which case- congratulations!

Welcome to September!

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 Tips for Reinventing Your Home- Go ahead- it's worth it!

Now that homeowners no longer obsess about how much their homes have increased in value in the past week, they're reacquainting themselves with the joys of home ownership from a new, healthier perspective.

Recognizing that larger is not necessarily better and that less can actually be more, many homeowners are looking for ways to make the homes they're in more useful, comfortable and enjoyable.

Here is Jay MacDonald from Bankrate.com with the ideas that may help you make the house you're in your dream home:

1. Show your true colors. "Paint is the cheapest and most powerful thing you can do to put your personal stamp on a home," says Barbara Corcoran, a New York City real-estate agent and NBC's "Today" show real-estate expert. "Paint your home the colors you enjoy living with, the colors you feel happiest within."

2. Ditch some stuff. "You probably have more stuff than you need. Get rid of some of it," says James Gauer, author of "The New American Dream: Living Well in Small Homes."

3. Start simple. Find the simplest remodeling solution within your home's existing footprint before considering expanding its size, says Marc Vassallo, co-author of "Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live."

4. Dine in a booth. "I've yet to see a small living/dining room where a free-floating dining table and chairs really works," Gauer says. "A dining banquette against the wall looks and feels luxurious and comfortable while taking up considerably less space."

5. Check out books. "Put a wall of books in any room and it's cozy and inviting," Corcoran says.

6. Consolidate doorways. "Attempt to locate all the doorways to the kitchen on one side of the room and eliminate any that are not absolutely necessary," Vassallo says. "This leaves the rest of the kitchen for continuous countertop and appliance arrangement while limiting the flow of foot traffic through the work area."

7. Plan your furniture first. "Never buy furniture without first laying out a furniture plan," Gauer says. "Chances are, that sofa you're eyeing is too big and will just make your living room feel crowded."

8. Let there be light. "The right lighting can make a heck of an improvement,"  Corcoran says. "Throw in task lighting to make tasks easier, mood light to make a room sexier. And don't forget dimmers! I can't imagine lighting without them."

9. Add a column. "Create a more open floor plan by removing a wall and replacing it with a new support beam and columns," Vassallo says. "Columns allow for differentiation of places with minimal view obstruction."

10. Dare to be modest. "Modesty requires us to arrange our homes first and foremost to suit the real needs of our private lives with no thought to public display, to eschew the showy and unnecessary and embrace the appropriate and suitable," Gauer says.

Selling your home right now just may not be in your cards.  That's why we have a great cliche to fall back on, "Love the one you're with."  Weekend's upon us?  Got a little spare time for a little reinvention?  Could find yourself falling in love- with your home- all over again.  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.

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.

Summer vacation- over already? Help your kids survive "back to school"!

Yep, it's summer, and as twisted as it sounds, that SHOULD mean back-to-school prep for parents to avoid the inevitable nervous breakdown that comes with waiting until the last minute on absolutely everything. Let's learn more from MSNBC's Kids and Parenting:

Make a well-visit appointment with your child's pediatrician if summer camp paperwork didn't require an up-to-date health and immunization record and one is needed for school. Schedule eye exams and dental appointments. Everybody's trying for the same appointment times, so planning ahead pays off. Bring along necessary forms for the doctor's signature.

Athletics programs may require a physical on a short cycle, say only six months old, and many doctors will do a special "sports physical" covering less ground if it's not time for an annual, Vozza said.

If your child is entering a new school, you may still be recovering from the admissions and registration process, but you need to watch your pile of summer mail for any back-to-school correspondence from the PTA or teachers. Also, make sure you've notified the people you've listed as emergency contacts.

Sure, for-ever it's been suits and beach covers, but now you've got to make your kids focus on school clothes.  If they need to sign off on fall wear, shopping early makes sense for the best selection and helps to avoid sizes selling out.

Clean out your child's closets before you shop for back to school, or the old and beat up will be buried under the new and pristine. Begin sorting through closets before school begins, or soon after, and remember that the weather is usually still warm for a few weeks after classes start, Vozza said.

Have you registered your child for fall sports and made enough copies of required documents to cover sports, school and after-school obligations? Have you signed up for the onsite afterschool program?

Buy new cleats, sports uniforms, helmets, karate, ballet or gymnastics clothes, ice skates, inline skates or other equipment they've outgrown or might need, like tennis rackets. Does anything need to be monogrammed?

Confirm the sitter if that's your after-school childcare plan. Confirm daycare and ask for a list of required items. Confirm bus routes. Angela Gifford at Mom4Life.com also suggests making carpool connections, something that shouldn't wait until the last minute if you're depending on sharing pickup and drop-off responsibilities with other families.

Any idea how to outfit a dorm room these days? CollegeView.com urges a check of the school's Web site for what's not allowed before shopping ensues (toasters, air conditioners and space heaters are often prohibited). Download the school's checklist and make contact with roommates to divide up common appliances and decor, like rugs and coffee makers.

Some useful items that might fly under your radar because you're preoccupied with pricey computers and other high-tech gear: No stain, good-stick tak to hang posters, closet extenders like hanging shoe and sweater storage, reusable shopping bags, a hand vacuum, sewing kit, collapsible hamper, first aid kit, small tool kit, strong magnetic clips, clothesline or drying rack.

Has your new college kid ever cleaned the bathroom? This might be a good time to introduce him to the cleaning supplies aisle. Does he know how to do laundry? Hit the bank for a few rolls of quarters if that's what school machines take.

On the computer front, consider signing him up for an offline data storage service for easy and safe backup as he takes on more work in college.

The first things to go out the window as soon as Summer vaca hits are any hint of a sleep schedule and getting going early in the morning. While there's no need to maintain those regimens over summer, rebuilding them in the fall takes time.

Two or three weeks before school begins, start nibbling away at bedtimes and your back-to-school, out-the-door drills.

"Make a list for kids to follow and tape it to their bedroom doors, so they know exactly what they have to do without you asking," Vozza said. "Things like brush your teeth, make your bed."

The list can include lots of other things that don't apply to the laid-back summer: Putting shoes and backpacks by the door, picking clothes out the night before.

And...ready or not- you're off- everyone in the family!  Next week- we'll tackle the sometimes predictable headaches and tummy aches early in a school year masking the real culprits:  fear and nervousness. 

Have a great weekend-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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9 Power Foods to Boost Your Immunity- and keep you healthy!

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."  Pretty good saying that's been around a long time.  So sure, go ahead with your apples.  But take a good look at these foods from Prevention magazine, which hold some pretty surprising nutrients to help keep your immune system on guard.

Right off the bat, let's think COLOR! You can ensure your body and immunity run smoothly by rounding out your plate with plenty of colorful servings of fruits and veggies, plus 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, at the very least. The following ingredients can add extra flu-fighting punch to your winter meal plan.

1. Yogurt
Probiotics, or the "live active cultures" found in yogurt, are healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs. Although they're available in supplement form, a study from the University of Vienna in Austria found that a daily 7-ounce dose of yogurt was just as effective in boosting immunity as popping pills. In an 80-day Swedish study of 181 factory employees, those who drank a daily supplement of Lactobacillus reuteri--a specific probiotic that appears to stimulate white blood cells--took 33% fewer sick days than those given a placebo. Any yogurt with a Live and Active Cultures seal contains some beneficial bugs, but Stonyfield Farm is the only US brand that contains this specific strain.

Your optimal dose: Two 6-ounce servings a day.

2. Oats and Barley
These grains contain beta-glucan, a type of fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities more potent than echinacea, reports a Norwegian study. When animals eat this compound, they're less likely to contract influenza, herpes, even anthrax; in humans, it boosts immunity, speeds wound healing, and may help antibiotics work better.

Your optimal dose: At least one in your three daily servings of whole grains.

3. Garlic
This potent onion relative contains the active ingredient allicin, which fights infection and bacteria. British researchers gave 146 people either a placebo or a garlic extract for 12 weeks; the garlic takers were two-thirds less likely to catch a cold. Other studies suggest that garlic lovers who chow more than six cloves a week have a 30% lower rate of colorectal cancer and a 50% lower rate of stomach cancer.

Your optimal dose: Two raw cloves a day and add crushed garlic to your cooking several times a week.

4. Fish
Selenium, plentiful in shellfish such as oysters, lobsters, crabs, and clams, helps white blood cells produce cytokines-proteins that help clear flu viruses out of the body. Salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation, increasing airflow and protecting lungs from colds and respiratory infections.

Your optimal dose: Two servings a week (unless you're pregnant or planning to be).

5. Grandma was right- Chicken Soup
When University of Nebraska researchers tested 13 brands, they found that all but one (chicken-flavored ramen noodles) blocked the migration of inflammatory white cells-an important finding, because cold symptoms are a response to the cells' accumulation in the bronchial tubes. The amino acid cysteine, released from chicken during cooking, chemically resembles the bronchitis drug acetylcysteine, which may explain the results. The soup's salty broth keeps mucus thin the same way cough medicines do. Added spices, such as garlic and onions, can increase soup's immune-boosting power.

Your optimal dose: Have a bowl when feeling crummy.

6. Tea
People who drank 5 cups a day of black tea for 2 weeks had 10 times more virus-fighting interferon in their blood than others who drank a placebo hot drink, in a Harvard study. The amino acid that's responsible for this immune boost, L-theanine, is abundant in both black and green tea--decaf versions have it, too.

Your optimal dose: Several cups daily. To get up to five times more antioxidants from your tea bags, bob them up and down while you brew.

7. Sweet Potatoes
You may not think of skin as part of your immune system. But this crucial organ, covering an impressive 16 square feet, serves as a first-line fortress against bacteria, viruses, and other undesirables. To stay strong and healthy, your skin needs vitamin A. "Vitamin A plays a major role in the production of connective tissue, a key component of skin," explains Prevention advisor David Katz, MD, director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby, CT. One of the best ways to get vitamin A into your diet is from foods containing beta-carotene (like sweet potatoes), which your body turns into vitamin A.

Your optimal dose: A half-cup serving, which delivers only 170 calories but 40 percent of the DV of vitamin A as beta-carotene. They're so good, you might want to save them for dessert! Think orange when looking for other foods rich in beta-carotene: carrots, squash, canned pumpkin, and cantaloupe.

8. Go ahead- have your Beef
Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutritional shortfalls among American adults, especially for vegetarians and those who've cut back on beef, a prime source of this immunity-bolstering mineral. And that's unfortunate, because even mild zinc deficiency can increase your risk of infection. Zinc in your diet is very important for the development of white blood cells, the intrepid immune system cells that recognize and destroy invading bacteria, viruses, and assorted other bad guys, says William Boisvert, PhD, an expert in nutrition and immunity at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA.

Your optimal dose: A 3-oz serving of lean beef provides about 30 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for zinc. That's often enough to make the difference between deficient and sufficient. Not a beef person? Try zinc-rich oysters, fortified cereals, pork, poultry, yogurt, or milk.

9. Mushrooms
For centuries, people around the world have turned to mushrooms for a healthy immune system. Contemporary researchers now know why. "Studies show that mushrooms increase the production and activity of white blood cells, making them more aggressive. This is a good thing when you have an infection," says Douglas Schar, DipPhyt, MCPP, MNIMH, director of the Institute of Herbal Medicine in Washington, DC.

Your optimal dose: Shiitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms appear to pack the biggest immunity punch; experts recommend at least ¼ ounce to an ounce a few times a day for maximum immune benefits. Add a handful to pasta sauce, saute with a little oil and add to eggs, or heap triple-decker style on a frozen pizza.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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10 skills you would have learned in home ec (if you'd been paying attention!)

How hard can it be to sew on a button or iron a shirt? Not that hard, actually. But in fairly recent years, many of us have begun outsourcing these and other basic life tasks to others. With cash flowing freely, we didn't feel the need to fend for ourselves.

But these days, many of us are relearning those skills taught in high school home economics- things so basic it sounds a little silly, really- like how to fold clothes, cook dinner and clean.

Given our newfound interest in self-reliance, what basic knowledge should every adult have (that our home-ec teachers tried to teach us back a ways?)  Guess what?  MSN Money gathered a group of them to offer a short list of things we should all know how to do when we grow up. And it turns out they now teach kids about more than cooking and ironing.

Here's what they came up with:

1. Make minor sewing repairs or alterations
No, you don't need to sew your own suits or make decorative throw pillows. But for only $2, you can buy a sewing kit and be your own tailor- sewing on buttons, mending rips and hemming pants (a sewing machine does this particular job a little better, but it's not a necessity).

Knowing how to add an extra hook to a pair of pants or to correct a gap in a blouse can make them fit better, so you'll wear them more. Learn how by watching video at sites like eHow.

Cost of a sewing kit: $2

Cost to replace buttons on a shirt: $6

Professional hemming: $9-$12

2. Craft a household budget and balance a checkbook
Many of us fail to reconcile our bank statements -- even though software like Quicken and free budgeting sites like Mint.com make it a snap. Even fewer of us bother to save our debit card receipts and record those transactions.

But that's something Tanya Wright of Pitman High School in Turlock, Calif., teaches her students in a "Life Management" course, as a way to live within your means and guard against fraud.

Looking for an easy way to budget? Read Liz Pulliam Weston's "10 ways to simplify your financial life."

Cost savings: Around $27 per overdraft charge.

3. Make soup
When the going gets tough, the tough go back in the kitchen. Certainly everyone should be able to read a recipe and know a teaspoon from a tablespoon. If you don't, head to your library and pick up a classic like "Joy of Cooking." But every home cook should also have a repertoire of dishes that deliver the biggest economic bang for the buck.

Soups and one-dish meals -- the staples of home-ec cooking -- let you do more with less. One key is using less meat and more vegetables, plus rice or pasta, to stretch the meal.

The basis of most soups is a simple "mirapois," a fancy term for a 2-1-1 combination of onions, carrots and celery. Add stock, garlic, beans, veggies or meat and you've got a meal, says Sandi Coulter, home-ec teacher at San Juan High School in Citrus Heights, Calif.

Cost of a big pot of lentil vegetable soup and a loaf of French bread: 75 cents/serving.

Cost of a can of Progresso Lentil: $1.79/serving.

4. Comparison shop at the grocery store
Getting a good buy at the grocery store or warehouse club depends on your ability to discern the true deal, rather than leap at the lowest price. You'd probably be surprised at how much you can save just by taking the time to look at the per-unit price between a store brand and the most definitely more expensive name brand product- could be as much as a 20% difference!

Cost savings by comparison shopping: hundreds of dollars a year- a huge difference over a lifetime.

5. Take care of your own wardrobe
This means following the care instructions on your clothes -- yes, read the label -- and doing your own fluff and fold, rather than paying someone else to do it.

Learn how to iron a shirt, shine your shoes and treat spots on shirts and ties. These rudimentary skills will extend the life of your clothes and spare your clothing budget.

Cost to iron a shirt: $0.

Cost of getting a shirt pressed at the dry cleaner: $2 to $2.50.

6. Clean your house with vinegar and baking soda
You don't need a lot of different (and expensive) cleaners to clean and sanitize your house. These two dirt-cheap ingredients will do the trick for most surfaces.

"You can do mirrors with the white vinegar, and the baking soda is great for anything porous," says teacher Coulter. Indeed, baking soda is a great scrub for your tub or your body, our experts said.

If you don't like the smell of vinegar, just add a little lemon juice. That and a little fragrance are probably what you are paying for if you buy those expensive "green" cleaners.

Cost of a 67-ounce refill of Windex cleaner: $7.49.

Cost of a 64-ounce jug of Safeway vinegar: $2.48.

7. Bake in the microwave
Transferring some of your cooking and baking to the microwave can cut your utility costs and your time in the kitchen. Wright teaches her students how to microwave a whole chicken in a casserole dish and even bake cakes in the microwave. The cakes don't brown as much, but who can tell under all that frosting?

Cost to bake a cake in the microwave, 12 minutes: 3 cents.

Cost to bake it in an electric oven, 30 minutes plus preheating: 12 cents.

Value of a cool kitchen in the summer: oh, that's priceless.

8. Apply paint
When your walls get marked up, and your furniture has moved beyond "shabby chic" to skid row junk, you should be able to do something about it yourself. A good sanding and a bright coat of paint can wring a few more years out of that old dresser or chair and help you salvage thrift-store finds.

Cost of used dresser, knobs and paint: $80-$125.

Pottery Barn dresser: $899.

9. Replace filters and screens in your house
Replacing the filters in your air conditioner and furnace is routine maintenance you shouldn't pay someone else to do, Coulter teaches.

Buying filters and window screens at your local Home Depot or Lowe's is cheap. Buying them with a markup from a handyman or service guy, and paying for labor, is for suckers.

Cost of an air conditioning filter: $17.

Cost of a service visit to change your filter: $125.

10.  Put together a resume
Sure, a friend could probably help you -- if you can get them to make the time for it. But with so much free advice and so many samples on the Web, even high school students can come up with a way to make their babysitting jobs, team sports and volunteering sound like selling points.

"We teach our students how to put together a portfolio and résumé and practice job interviews," Wright says. "It gets them thinking about the kinds of things they can do and put on their résumé" in the years ahead.

If you never learned, you might take a look to start at MSN Careers' Résumé Center.

Cost to put together your own résumé: $0.

Cost of a professional résumé service: $200.

So if you spent a great deal of home ec class time zzzzzzing, don't worry.  As with most things in life, guess what?  It's not too late to learn!  Have a great start to your week!

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.

Back-to-school...already?

Absolutely.  Summer vaca will be but a distant glimmer in your kids' minds before they can utter one more time, "No more teachers!  No more books...."  Get it?  Better get to shopping for next year's school supplies pretty soon, too.  In fact, start thinking about it now, and you could find yourself saving a few bucks this year, too.  Real Simple lays it out:

• Take advantage of tax-free weekends. Sixteen states offer this shopping perk: During a designated time of the year- many in August- back-to-school items, like backpacks, clothing, even footwear, are tax-free. (For a list of participating locales, go to taxadmin.org.)
• Wait for discounts. Big markdowns on clothing, electronics, and shoes typically occur in mid-August. The reward for your patience? Savings of 40 to 50 percent in stores and 20 to 25 percent with online retailers.
• Buy a backpack with a warranty. Book bags take a beating, so buy your child’s backpack from a reputable company that guarantees its merchandise. If a zipper breaks, the company will replace the backpack at no charge or it may give you your money back.
• Ask for a student discount on software. Flash a valid K–12 or college ID at tech stores or send a copy via e-mail or fax to sites like academicsuperstore.com or journeyed.com and you could get up to 80 percent off your purchase.
• Buy school supplies at warehouse or big-box retailers. The prices will be much lower than at supermarkets and drugstores.

And remember to put on your frownie-face when the kids bemoan their fate at having to go back to school...even if you're happy, happy, happy on the inside!

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.