1. Minyanville.com

From the moment you open the page, you can tell that Minyanville is just a little bit different. After perusing the site, it becomes obvious that it may be your new one-stop-shop for all things financial. Though it does promote itself as a site for everyone from financial planners to soccer moms, it may take a bit of getting used to for those new to the world of finance.

The site provides information on markets, investing and the latest news that affects the financial world. If you’ve ever thought of investing, this site will give you great advice: where to put your money and where you’ll be wasting your money; check it out!

2. Dinkytown.net

While it may not be the hippest looking website, these pages rock every financial calculator known to man. The landing page of the website touts dozens of calculators for sale, but don’t let that turn you away. Simply click on the links to the left and you’ll be rewarded with tons of free calculators to use immediately.

Are you looking to save for retirement? Maybe you want to see if you can afford that new car or are wondering how long it will take you to pay off your credit cards. These calculators can give you the information you need to make insightful decisions.

3. Suze’s Tools.com

We love Suze Orman but let’s be realistic; this is a woman doing a job to make a buck. Actually, Suze is doing a job and making lots of bucks. You could buy one of her books, purchase one of her kits or you could just log on to this cool website for free. After all, you’re trying to save your money, not give it away!

The home page of Suze’s Tools provides five calculators that are easy to use along with links to her books; should you decide to buy them.

4. Choose to Save.org
Another site that isn’t dazzling to look at, but extremely helpful, is Choose to Save. Scroll down the page and you’ll see superhero icons and cartoon mascots; maybe the site is dazzling after all! The site provides hundreds of articles pertaining to finance and also has great calculators for those that are looking to save.

Do you want to know how to prepare for retirement? Are you looking to learn how to teach your children to be financially savvy? Use this site to learn all there is to know about money and the best way to handle it.

5. MakeUseOf.com

This cool website provides its users with tips, how-to articles and calculators. Aimed at the 18-35 crowds, the site offers boot camps, daily email lists and apps for some of the best financial apps for your mobile device. If you’ve got a teenager about to leave for college, or if you’re in the 18-35 age bracket yourself, you’ll find this site incredibly useful.

Financial websites don’t have to be a cure for insomnia. There are dozens of cool websites that will help you boost your financial IQ. Check out any or all of these five and see what you think!

Author Sheila Barnett writes on personal finance and budgeting for financial calculator, a site with helpful details and financial tools such as an interest calculator, a millionaire calculator, and even a brand vs. generic calculator.

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1. Choosing a Doctor

Before you choose any doctor, it’s important you research their background and the services they offer. You obviously aren’t going to go to a podiatrist to treat your acne. When choosing a doctor, you want to be sure of a few things: are the licensed to practice in your state, do they have board certification and what hospital is the doctor affiliated with? These are the starting points; you may find that other information, such as the age and gender of the physician, are important to you.

2. Buying a New Car

Purchasing a new car is a big decision. What type of vehicle will best suit your needs? Once you’ve chosen the type of vehicle, it’s important to research its specs and the results of any safety testing it has undergone. Do this at home, without pressure from a salesman who, let’s face it, will sell you anything to make a commission.

Once you’ve decided on the make and model of the vehicle you want to purchase, you’ll want to research the dealers in your area. Do they have a good reputation? Are they offering any incentives? Are they in a convenient location should your vehicle need maintenance?

3. Choosing a College

Whether you are going to school or sending your child to college for the first time, choosing a college can be a life-altering decision. Some things to ask yourself: does the college offer a wide choice of majors? Can you afford the tuition? Does the institute offer financial assistance outside of federal loans and grants?

Colleges are fairly easy to research online. Almost every school has its own website full of information and contact numbers. There are also books at your library that will give you the latest rankings on a wide variety of criteria.

4. Medical Testing

Did you know that you aren’t required to have testing performed at your doctor’s office? Most people don’t know that they are free to acquire testing from outside, and often less costly, sources. When you locate a laboratory or clinic, make sure they offer the type of testing that you require. Are they close to home? What is their turnaround time for results?

5. Buying a House

If you’re buying your first home, there are many things you need to be aware of. What types of inspections does your lender require? Will you go with a VA, FHA or other type of loan? Would a fixed mortgage work best for you or would you be better suited by taking out an alternative type of loan? Knowing what you are getting into can save a great deal of heartache and stress later.

Before you make any major purchase, it is important that you boost your Consumer IQ. The World Wide Web is a fantastic source of information. From public information to consumer reviews, you can find it all online. Your local library is also a great source of information! No matter what you are purchasing or what type of services you need, arming yourself with as much information as possible is the only way to make a sound decision.

Cynthia Johnson is a lab assistant and online contributor for one of the most notable health testing centers, offering a prescribed or self-ordered Lipid Profile and many other types of blood tests for everything from liver functions to a thyroid test.

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Vitamin Water Zero

Choose your flavor, rip open the top and chug. It’s that simple. Vitamin Water is up to its ears in vitamins and electrolytes making it a fabulous post-party cure. In fact, if you make it the last drink of the night, you may even be able to head off the worst of your hangover. There is no hard and fast rule to this cure; drink until you feel better. Vitamin Water does double duty in re-hydrating your body and replacing the vitamins and electrolytes that the alcohol sucked away.

Pedialyte

Chances are, if you don’t have a toddler in the house you don’t have cupboards stocked with the stuff. However, I implore you: if you are planning to tie one on this holiday, run out now and buy Pedialyte. One box of the powdered variety will net you eight doses of blissful cure! To cure your hangover, mix one tube of powder in eight ounces of ice cold water. You can repeat the process every hour if you need to but one glass typically does the trick.

Exercise

Okay. Admittedly, exercise is the last thing on my mind but, as a hangover cure, getting active is a sure-fire method. Note that by exercise I don’t mean a light walk to the mailbox. You’ve got to really work up a sweat. By doing so, you’ll literally sweat out the alcohol and toxins in your body, thereby reducing their nasty effects. So suck it up, get out of bed and put your running shoes on. The sooner you sweat, the sooner you’ll feel better.

Advil

Warning: if you suffer from alcoholism and frequently wake with a hangover, this is NOT the cure for you! Overusing Advil can cause damage to your liver. However, if, like me, you are happily labeled a binge drinker, using Advil is perfectly safe. Wash down your two Advil with a Vitamin Water and within 20 minutes you may forget that you were hung-over in the first place.

Chaser Plus

Perhaps you’ve seen the commercials or heard the advertisements on the radio. Chaser Plus is a sure-fire way to get rid of your hangover. Why? Because you won’t get drunk in the first place! Doesn’t sound like much fun does it? Think of it like this: if you take Chaser Plus while you drink, you can hang with the fellas without getting falling down stupid. Not to mention that DUI you’ll avoid on the way home!

I would be remiss to mention the best hangover cure of all: don’t get drunk. Count that bit of advice for my good deed of the day and let’s get back to the topic at hand. If you should over-indulge, there are several cures for your morning after blues. Don’t try them all at once. You’ll have plenty of time to move down the list next weekend. And while I can offer you plenty in the way of hangover advice, I can’t hand you a ‘get out of jail free card’; be careful out there!

When you find yourself in need of a DUI Attorney, where do you turn? Fiona McIntyre consults families suffering the affects of alcoholism find a nj dui lawyer.

Photo by: open cage

Mention winterizing your home, and most people think of things associated with preparing the house for cold weather – caulking leaks, storing firewood or servicing the furnace. My friend Heather includes emergency preparation in her winter planning, and with good reason.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration, home fires are more prevalent in the winter than in any other season.  Winter is also the season when you are most likely to experience weather related problems, such as a loss of electricity or phone service.

Heather spends a weekend early every winter going over safety plans, and updating and adding to emergency supplies and food and fuel reserves.  Her family designates the weekend of Daylight Savings Time as the Jones family safety day.

Heather says that they’ve never had a fire or needed to use their emergency supplies, but knowing her family is prepared helps her sleep better at night. Her kids are learning important lessons in self-reliance that they’ll carry to adulthood, as well. Here’s Heather’s annual fall safety list:

1. Batteries

Change the batteries in the fire alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Clean and check equipment to make sure it is functioning. Check fire extinguishers, as well, and replace outdated ones.

2. Escape Plan

Map out a fire escape plan that describes at least two exits from each room. Draw a diagram of the plan and practice it with your family. Designate a meeting place at a neighbor’s in the event of a fire.

3. Water

Store at least 20 gallons of water for emergency use. Large, plastic juice bottles make good containers. Wash them with soapy water and rinse well before using. Store the water in a cool, dry location. Avoid placing the bottles directly on concrete because chemicals from the cement can leach into the water. Place a piece of plywood over bare concrete.

4. Supplies

Keep a supply of candles, firewood, propane and a flashlight with fresh batteries. Stock enough canned goods, powdered milk and snacks to last for three days. Store extra diapers and formula if you have a baby.

5. Emergency Kit

Photo by: Global X

Develop a 72-hour emergency kit for each family member. This kit should contain everything you need to survive for three days if you had to evacuate your home. Heather uses backpacks for her family’s kits and fills the backpacks with non-perishable, high-energy foods, such as granola bars, raisins, pouches of tuna fish and hard candy. She also includes water, a first aid kit, a flashlight, tissue, paper towels, a knife, and an aluminum foil blanket. Store your emergency kit in an easily accessible place – on hooks or shelves in the garage, or in wooden storage benches.

6. Documents & Money

Keep copies of important documents with the 72-hour kits to grab in a hurry. Keep an updated list of contact information for neighbors, family and friends with the documents, as well as a small amount of money.

7. Car Kit

Keep an emergency kit in your car that includes gloves, warm clothing, a small shovel, first aid kit, water, money, and non-perishable food supplies.

Schedule your first family safety day early this winter to replace the batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and review a fire escape plan. You’ll probably need a few weeks to gather food and water supplies, and build the 72 hour emergency kits.

That’s okay. You don’t have to accomplish everything all at once. The important thing is that you are taking baby steps towards increasing your family’s level of preparedness. Once complete, you’ll look forward to winter with enthusiasm, knowing that your home is safe and secure.

About the Author

Stan Horst lives with his wife and two teenagers in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He owns a vacation cabin rental business, and also maintains a website on outdoor benches, such as benches by Kingsley Bate. He loves using the Internet to learn new things and share his knowledge with others.

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It seems that everyone is dating online these days. Any one of your friend’s family or co-workers could be doing it. Most likely you are privy to their failures and successes with the process, leading you to form your own opinions. Before you take the plunge and move forward, here are some points that may sway your decision.

Safety First

This one is definitely the most obvious. You really have zero idea of where this guy could be from or what his real intentions are. Do you really want to take that chance? Through “false familiarity” with someone that you met online, you might let your guard down and give information that could put you in harm’s way. If you decide to stick with online dating, be extremely careful and take all of the necessary precautions that are suggested by the site you are using. You may be inspired to get caught up in the excitement and romance, but keep your heart in check because this could end up being a huge downfall.

It Takes Your Gut Instinct Out of the Equation

Normally you will have a gut reaction to someone when you meet them in person. Granted your radar may not always be right, but a majority of the time it will be. You can probably weed out 80 percent of dishonesty just by reading someone’s body language. Unlike meeting someone online, they haven’t had the time to rehearse what they’ve told you which makes reactions off the cuff and more honest.

Perceived Intimacy

“OMG, he totally had a childhood like mine and he loves 80’s movies, we are totally meant to be!” You are inevitably making that statement after 2 seconds of reading a profile. By reading all about someone’s life in a snapshot, you feel a connection with them and at ease. This is dangerous territory and you should be careful. Anyone who has dated online knows that 90 percent of the time you show up and they are nothing like the profile.

Investment and None of the Payoff

You really can’t know someone until you see them interact with others, especially their friends and family. So here you are taking the time to build the relationship through email, text or phone. This could take anywhere from weeks to years depending on the situation. Then you meet and there is no chemistry, or you find out your intended ”forever mate” is a jerk to others. Now you’ve wasted your time and most likely will be spending the next couple of months getting over it.

Playing a Role, Creating Personas

Statistics say that 1/5th of online daters are married men. This should scare you. Imagine you’re corresponding with someone for months and it’s the supposed love of your life, and then whoops he’s married. Yep, you just spent your entire emotional bank for no reason. People create entirely new personas online and typically divulge things that they never would in person. What you see is only a sliver of their actual life. They can sculpt themselves in ways that are misleading. What you “see” is not what you get!

Turns You into “Judgy Judgerson”

Really were you all that picky and flippant before online dating started? Now you’re trolling through profile after profile and judging them all in an instant. He’s too short, too stuffy, weird picture, likes cats, too old, too young, etc.—usually because you are bombarded and don’t want to be bothered with reading the entire profile. We are multi-layered individuals with many dimensions of personality.  How can that come across in one photo or one catchphrase on an online webpage? Do you really want to pick your future mate like you choose what you want to buy on your favorite shopping site?

With all this being said, any of these situations could prove true by meeting someone in a bar or at the gym. People can be dishonest and waste your time no matter where the meeting took place. But you are different in person—your senses are different and your gut instincts are on alert. It puts the human nature aspect back into finding the love you want. For this reason alone I feel that online dating puts you at a severe disadvantage and that there is a benefit in meeting people the old fashioned way.

Carol Young is a specialist in personal background research and suggests All Area Codes as a good starting point for date background checks, email and phone tracers.

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Use Direct Deposit

If your paycheck goes directly into your bank account, you’ll be less likely to spend it than if you cash a check and put the money in your wallet. Even better, automatically funnel a small amount of money from your checking account to your savings account when you get paid. If you don’t see the money in your checking account, you’re less likely to factor it in and use it to buy unnecessary items. You’ll learn to live on less, and you won’t even notice it’s missing, but it will make a big impact as it builds in your savings account.

Take Advantage of Employer Benefits

If your employer offers a 401(k), take advantage of it. Many employers will match a percentage of your contribution. That’s like getting free money. Even though you can’t touch it now without a penalty, it’s nice to know it’s there in case of an emergency.

Figure Out Your Budget, then Cut it Down to Size

Creating a budget can be helpful—and surprising. When you write down all of your obligatory expenses, you may be amazed at how quickly it all adds up. Try to cut back in order to reduce even the necessary bills.

• Cutting down your shower from 10 minutes to 5 minutes will reduce the amount of water you use for bathing in half (and will lower your water bill).
• Drying your clothes outside will save energy, lower your electric bill, and get the stains out of your clothes.
• Adding extra insulation to your attic will keep your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, so you will spend less on your heating and air conditioning bills.
• Save on food. Clipping $10 worth of coupons each week will save you $520 a year. If you don’t eat a lot of the food for which coupons are available, buy in bulk. Shopping at food warehouses like Costco or purchasing in bulk online at websites like Amazon.com can help you lower your grocery bill.

Stick to Your Budget

It helps to allot at least a little bit of money for leisure expenses, or you’ll never stick to your budget. But if you allotted $20 for a dinner out, don’t get drinks, an appetizer, and dessert or you’ll go over your budget. If you want to buy a new piece of furniture, save up that extra money for a few weeks and then buy it. Or you can take out a payday loan and pay it back a little bit at a time. But don’t get in the habit of spending more than you make, or you may end up with a credit crisis down the road.

Know How Much to Withhold

Withholding too much in each paycheck just to get it back in your tax refund is like giving Uncle Sam a free loan without charging interest. Instead, withhold less and deposit the difference into a high-yield savings account. You’ll accrue interest on money that was just sitting idle before. On the other hand, don’t withhold too little. You may end up paying at tax time, and you may not have the money to do so.

Making the most of every penny you make can help you live a financially stable life. It’s easy to lose focus on your finances if you don’t keep records, or if you use a credit card frivolously. Keep track of what you make and what you spend, and cut back where you can to make every paycheck count.

London resident Samantha Hathaway is a financial consultant and a content contributor for Payday Loans, a company which helps you out with an advance payday loan when you need money before your paycheck comes in.

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• First of all, you will have to connect the wireless network adapter to your console. A Wi-Fi adapter that connects to the Ethernet port is supposed to be always used if you are dealing with an Xbox. This kind of adapter can also be used to connect your Xbox 360 to any USB port.
• Make sure that you turn on your console and then start navigating it to the appropriate and suitable wireless settings. You will see that on the menu of your Xbox, you will have to go to settings _ Network settings _ advanced _ wireless and then finally settings. The path on Xbox360 is more or less similar.
• Now you will be asked to set up SSID, which is the name of network. You will have to do this to match it with your wireless router. In case, the SSID broadcast is already enabled on your wireless router, then the name of SSID is supposed to appear as a pre-selected option on the display screen of your game console. In other case, you will be in need of selecting the option called Specify Unlisted Network and there you will be asked to enter SSID.
• For Network Mode, you will be asked to specify ‘Infrastructure’.
• Now set up the Security Type so that it could be matched to your wireless router. In case the router you have, is using encryption of WPA nature and your adapter is not supportive for WPA, then you will be in need of changing the settings of your router settings, in order to make use of WEP encryption.
• Once you are done with it, then you just have to save the settings and make sure that the network is verified and has become functional.
• If you will complete the process, then the display screen is going to tell you that you have connected your console successfully to the wireless router.

Alisha John is a chief editor since early 2007, and she currently works for Learn Xbox Repair.com. An xbox repair website that helps the Xbox 360 fans to repair their consoles and other hardware at home.

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1) Turbo Tax Deluxe

Turbo Tax has long been the standard in do-it-yourself tax software. And the updated version for the current year is sure to be about the easiest way possible to get your taxes done. The interface is intuitive and easy to use, and the program will walk you through step by step. Make sure you have all your tax document ready before you start so you can save time and get your taxes done as quickly as possible.

2) Turbo Tax Premier

For the high roller who doesn’t want to pony up for a personal accountant. Turbo Tax Premier allows for all the functionality of cheaper editions of Turbo Tax, but Premier also allows you to calculate taxes on investments.

3) Turbo Tax for Military Families

If you’re in the armed forces, then one of the perks you may not know about is that Turbo Tax offers free tax preparation for your whole family. Go to MilitaryOneSource.com for more information.

4) TaxAct

This is another easy-to-use, intuitive tax system for people who don’t have investments or any other tricky items to bog them down. TaxAct is also cheaper than TurboTax. It may not be as well known, but TaxAct is well worth a look if you are looking to save some money on your tax preparation.

5) TaxCut Premium

This home software is maintained by the titans of the CPA industry, H&R Block. TaxCut is quick and simple, and it’s notable for being one of the easiest to use software platforms on the market today. H&R Block also offers a guarantee that you will get the highest refund possible and that they will defend your return in court if there is ever an audit against you. While the chances of a situation arising where this would actually be useful to you seem fairly slim, it’s an intriguing carrot and is certainly a reassuring perk that other tax programs do not provide.

About the author: Diane Johnson is a writer living in Utah. She enjoys traveling, shopping, and writing articles about and pell grants and anything else that interests her.

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Everyone wants to be healthy and in shape but some of us just don’t want to leave the house to make that happen. Thankfully, that’s not a problem because there are countless home workout solutions to choose from. We’ve weeded through the clutter to compile a list of the top 10 home workout products that will actually improve your physique and get you feeling great. Never pay another gym fee again!

10)  Wii Fit Plus by Nintendo

The body-sculpting benefits of the Wii Fit are nothing to rave about but the fun factor puts it on the list.  This is the exercise for people who hate exercise.  You will spend time burning calories and trying to achieve new goals without even realizing that you’re breaking a sweat.  Wii Fit also provides helpful feedback about your performance.  However, the lasting appeal is quite weak and it will get repetitive and boring after a just a few workouts.  Moreover, the balance board used for the workouts is not perfected and often has glitches during workouts.  The Wii Fit Plus Bundle will run you $89.99.  A final note- if you are on the heavy side (250lbs+), then this system is NOT for you.  The balance board WILL break and you WILL risk injury!

9) Travel Hoop by Hoopnoitca

Workouts with this weighted hula hoop will burn up to 600 calories per hour and increase core strength.  It also packs easily for travel.  At $38.99, it is a good fitness accessory to have around the house.  This As Seen on TV product has a way of being advertised as the greatest thing to ever happen to fitness.  Don’t fall for their gimmicks.  While it is a decent product, the quality and construction leaves much to be desired.  The hoop makes a terrible creaking sound while hooping that will drive some users nuts.  It is made of cheap plastic and is known to snap and fall apart after heavy use.

8) Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym

In terms of large space-consuming workout machines, the Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym is the best.  It allows users to perform 95 exercises and pretty much eliminates the need for a gym membership.  This home gym offers 310 lbs of resistance and the thing really works.  However, the downsides here are significant.  It sports a hefty price tag of over $2000 and will take up an area of your house that is about 10 x 7 feet.  The system is difficult to assemble but worth the effort.  In the end, it is very difficult to justify the price tag when a $100/month gym membership will most likely get you better results.

7) Shake Weight by Fitness IQ

Sure, the shake weight suffers from the humiliation and ridicule of nonstop jokes and sexual innuendos but at its core, it is an ultraportable workout tool that utilizes an effective motion for toning the arms, chest and shoulders.  At $29.95, the Shake Weight is reasonably priced and gives you a decent upper body workout.  You will actually feel the burn with this product.  Nonetheless, it is very limited in the muscle groups it targets and certainly will not be replacing your gym membership.  Many users have reported that the Shake Weight is the only product that was able to successfully tone their flabby arms.  Then again, they could have gotten similar results by intensely shaking a bottle of water.

6) Dual Ab Wheel by Valeo

This product is great for targeting the abs.  As a bonus, you’re also working your shoulders, arms, and back as secondary muscles.  It has a good grip for comfortable hand support and it can certainly get you that six-pack you’ve always wanted.  We would rank this higher on the list except that the design is slightly flawed and the movement causes back ache and discomfort after heavy use.  It is a certainly not a total home gym on its own but at $9.95, the ab wheel is a nice little addition to your existing home gym.

5) Perfect Pushup by Perfect Fitness

This is one of those products that you can’t believe wasn’t thought of sooner.  It revolutionizes one of the most basic workouts known to man- the pushup.  It is better than a regular pushup because it successfully reduces strain on wrists and elbows while stabilizing the shoulder joints.  This is a “must have” fitness product for chest workouts.  However, we cannot rank it better because it is overpriced at $54.98 and only allows you to target a very limited area of the body.

4) SelectTech 552 Dumbbells by Bowflex

Although this product still does not function as well as it should, we had to rank it high simply for the impressive ingenuity displayed here.  Instead of having dozens of dumbbells lining up against your walls, costing you a fortune and taking up space, you can now have just one adjustable dumbbell set by Bowflex. The system costs $330 and easily adjusts the weight of your dumbbell between 5 and 52.5 pounds.  The concept is incredible but the actual design needs some work.  There have been injuries reported due to weights falling off the dumbbells so be careful if you go with this product.

3) Iron Gym by Pro Fit

This is another product that we cannot believe wasn’t invented sooner.  It is a pull bar that easily attaches and detaches to and from any door in your house in a second.  It also doubles as a pushup stand and triples as a tool for crunches.  Personally, I view the crunches part is a sales gimmick but it the Iron Gym is indeed excellent for targeting the chest, back, and arms.  It is a simple tool but very effective at sculpting the upper body.  At $29.90, this is another must-have home workout tool.

2) P90X by Beach Body

This is the most popular fitness product of our time and rightfully so.  It is a set of 13 DVDs, a nutrition guide, and an exercise planner and it WORKS!  Thousands of people have experienced unbelievable transformations to their bodies after completing the 90 days fitness workout.  These workouts are not for the weak and they will kick your butt.  If you follow the course, you will develop a lean and sculpted physique quickly.  This requires hard work and dedication on your part and there is certainly no shortcut here.  The downside here is the price of $139.80 and that does not even include all the tools you need to follow along, such as weights, a pull up bar, a gym mat and resistance bands.  Furthermore, many users find the host of the series, Tony Horton, to be absolutely self-absorbed and obnoxious and but I personally dig his style.

1) Resistance Bands Set by Aylio

Yes, resistance bands.  You may be surprised by how a simple set of elastics can make it to the top of our 2011 home workouts list but this product is truly a complete home gym in a little blue pouch. These resistance bands use high quality metal clips that attach to the handles, allowing users to perform full-body workouts with between one and five bands simultaneously.  You can go as light as 7 pounds of resistance or bring it up all the way to 101 pounds.  This means the system is ideal for users at all fitness levels.  The set also includes ankle straps for leg workouts and a door anchor that can be placed at the top, side, or bottom of any door to recreate over 100 gym exercises.  All exercises are shown in detail within the included Aylio instructional manual and DVD.  These unique clip-on bands boast a lifetime warranty and allow you to perform all the same resistance exercises as the $2000 Bowflex machine, except at 2% of the cost and 2% of the space consumed in your home!  Aylio resistance band sets start at $39.99 for the basic set and go up to $69.99 for the ultimate.

Michael Waltin is a resistance training specialist, focusing on home exercise techniques using exercise bands.

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1. Leave work at work

Depending on your line of work, this may be easier said than done. But when the time comes to leave the office or workplace, leave everything work related where it is. This goes for both physical and mental work stuff. If there are reports or paper work that you need to get done, don’t bring it home. Either leave it until the next work day or ask for some help at work.  When it comes to the mental aspect of the job, this can be even harder to leave behind than the physical work. Try talking things out when you get home, but then pushing it to the background. If you spend all of your time home working or complaining about work, there isn’t much time left for anything else.

2. Clean the house together

Quite often in a marriage, even when the workload is even, it’s done separately. So throughout the week each person is working on their own separate to-do list. Sure, this gets the housework done, but it doesn’t really do anything for the marriage. Two people can live together but not really spend any time together which can affect the relationship. So when it comes to housework, why not do it together? Designate a half-hour or an hour every day or every other day and work on chores together. Not only does it make the time go by faster, it gives you and your spouse the opportunity to talk and connect.

3. Exercise

There are so many benefits to exercise that it’s amazing that more people don’t make it part of their daily routine. When you exercise, not only are you getting or staying in shape, but you’ll have an easier time sleeping and your mood will improve. Exercise can also help relieve stress and anxiety. It only makes sense that if you are less stressed, less anxious, healthy and sleeping well you’ll be happier. The affects of exercise can make a huge difference in your marriage.

4. Date night

Whether it’s once a week, once every two weeks or even once a month, it’s important to your marriage to have a date night. It’s so easy to get into a rut where you do the same things, have the same routine day after day. With a regular date night you have the opportunity to get dressed up and hit the town together, whether it’s for a romantic dinner or a movie. It helps you connect as a couple and remember why you fell in love in the first place.

5. Me time

While date night is important, so is me time. Take an hour or two a week and do something just for you. Maybe take up a new hobby or learn a new skill. It really doesn’t matter what it is. The important thing is that for a little bit each week it’s all about you. When you’re married, especially if you have children, you can lose your sense of self in work, taking care of your kids and being a spouse. Doing something you like can help keep things fresh in your marriage.

About the Author

Joshua Fletcher is a freelance writer for MarriageMax.com. Marriage Fitness is an innovative step-by-step relationship-changing system that teaches you how to save a marriage. It is a more effective alternative to marriage counseling.

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