His Gift

I just finished wrapping up my gift for my husband for our anniversary. I am kind of counting the days 'till we turn six years in our marriage. I hope he likes what I'm gonna give him. I didn't mind buying him this expensive thing for I seldom give him something...and when I do, I make sure it is nice and unique. Along with it is an anniversary card with long a message from my heart written into words.

A Big Difference Between Name-Brand And Store-Brand

I consider myself a good shopper although sometimes I pick up stuff from the grocery store that are higher in prices. Most of the time though I choose to buy stuff that are store-brands. It is a lot cheaper than name-brand ones yet they contain the same ingredients as the latter. I have learned to shop wisely through a friend who taught me to look at prices not the known labels so I won't be fooled by them. It saves us a few bucks so we have a happier pocket.

Here is a few products that you should ALWAYS buy generic written by Stacy Johnson on her article I found on Yahoo.

1. Pain relievers and other over-the-counter medications

Acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — is available in many generic products. Note that the generics aren't similar: they're identical. Why would you ever pay more for an identical product? This also applies to everything from cold medicine to eye drops — virtually every over-the-counter medication. The labels are right there — read them.

Name-Brand Acetaminophen: $10.99
Store-Brand Acetaminophen: $6.99
Difference: $4.00 (57 percent)

2. Water

Although I should certainly be used to it by now, I can't get over the fact that people go to the store to buy something in a bottle that they could be getting nearly free in their kitchen sink. But even if you can convince me that bottled water is worth the money, you'll have a heck of time convincing me that the gallon jug from Crystal Springs is noticeably better than the one from Publix. And if you're really concerned about water quality and/or taste — why aren't you buying a filter and making your own bottled water? I just don't get this entire concept.

Name-Brand Water: $1.25
Store-Brand Water: $.85
Difference: $.40 (48 percent)

3. Milk

I'm sure there are connoisseurs of moo-juice that could distinguish name-brand milk from store-brand — but I'm not quite sure how they'd do it. Bouquet? Finish? Sounds like a bunch of bull to me.

Name-Brand Milk: $5.45
Store-Brand Milk: $3.39
Difference: $2.06 (60 percent)

4. Margarine

It's already a substitute for butter. Is it really going to negatively impact your quality of life to substitute the substitute?

Name-Brand Margarine: $1.79
Store-Brand Margarine: $1.19
Difference: $.60 (50%)

5. Bleach

You're taking a cup of chlorine and adding it to gallons of water in your washing machine. How could any TV commercial possibly convince you that a brand name will make your clothes come out better?

Name-Brand Bleach: $2.25
Store-Brand Bleach: $1.67
Difference: $.58 (35 percent)

6. Cleaning Products

Many — if not most — cleaning products are already overpriced substitutes for stuff you already have around the house. Two of the most popular news stories we've ever done were Household Products Vinegar Can Replace and Do-It-Yourself Laundry Detergent. But let's assume that you have a fetish for spray bottles and insist on buying ready-to-use cleaning products: is the name brand getting your counter that much cleaner?

Name-Brand Cleaner with Bleach: $3.29
Store-Brand Cleaner with Bleach: $2.39
Difference: $.90 (38 percent)

7. Spices

Think your job is hard? Imagine if your career entailed convincing the public that your company's salt — the most basic of ingredients — was better than some other company's salt. The whole idea is preposterous. And yet, there they sit, side by side, with nothing but their labels and their prices to set them apart. And where spices are concerned, that's just the beginning — can you tell your oregano from mine?

Name-Brand Oregano: $5.48/oz.
Store-Brand Oregano: $1.24/oz.
Difference: $4.24 (342 percent)

A Very Good Exercise

I really had a very very good exercise this morning. It's really good for it left my thighs sore afterwards. It isn't just any ordinary exercises that most people do, instead it is something that my spouse and I both love doing and enjoyed it together. It is something that draws us closer to each other and brings us to the highest peak of our love. Intimacy is what we call it. During weekends, we make up for each other. During weekdays we are kind of busy that we just look forward for weekends to come and have fun...

6 Signs That You've Made It To Middle Class

I can't help but share this interesting article I have read on Yahoo today. Are you curious to know if you belong or you've made it to Middle Class? Read on to know your standing.

Have You Made it to the Middle?

A wide variety of numbers have been thrown around in an effort to define the middle. People earning 20% of the average income and people earning 80% all claim to be part of the middle class. More than a few millionaires make the claim too. While there is no official financial standard, the middle class as defined by the government task force is characterized in terms of six financial aspirations, which we can view as benchmarks.

Home Ownership

Home ownership remains the American dream. The step up from renting to owning signifies prosperity and achievement. With median home prices ranges differing by so much in different cities across the United States, the ability to achieve this goal varies significantly by geographical location. Someone earning an income in the 50% range in Detroit may not be able to afford even a small house in Los Angeles.

Automobile Ownership

Owning an automobile provides freedom of movement and the luxury of avoiding the limited schedules and cramped quarters offered by mass transportation options such as buses and subways. Here again, the cost of cars varying widely, as does the kind of automobile required. For one driver, a used Hyundai will do the trick. For another, a new BMW signifies the achievement of this goal.

A College Education for the Kids

Helping children get ahead in life is a primary goal for middle class families. Paying for a college education for children can cost anywhere from the low tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands. Decisions about which university of college to attend can have a significant impact on the price tag.

Retirement Security

Retirement is a goal nearly everyone wants to achieve. It demonstrates success and provides a reward for decades of hard work. Once again, definitions make a difference. The amount of gold required to support your golden years will vary significantly depending on whether you want a staff of 10 at your villa in the South of France or a townhouse in Peoria, Illinois.

Health Care Coverage

The ability to obtain healthcare is an important goal for middle class wager earners and their families. The high and rising cost of medical care and prescription drugs make healthcare coverage an ever-increasing need, as going without it can have serious negative financial implications in the event of a severe illness or injury.

Family Vacation

The family vacation is a middle class staple. Vacations demonstrate that a family has disposable income and has been successful enough to take time away from work to focus on leisure.

LIFTED FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

False Alarm

All along I thought I was pregnant but I am not. Red tide came since last night. It's fine though, I am in no rush. God will bless us our second baby when the timing is right. For now I must be glad that it is September soon, then October the month we gonna celebrate our 6th year wedding anniversary then November...the most anticipated month for I am going to visit my home country, the Philippines!!!!!!!!!!

I Might Be Pregnant

I might be pregnant with our second baby. It is a planned pregnancy since my husband and I both agreed to have our second baby before I fly to the Philippines this year. He was okay when I asked him if I can stop taking my birth control pills so here I am feeling signs of pregnancy. A week before my last date of period, I knew and I felt it somehow that I could get pregnant right away due to these symptoms follows below;

- darkening of nipples and around them there are dark spots like that of tagip-tip in our native tongue

- dizziness that occurs anytime of the day

- missing a period, supposedly I have it on the 16th of this month, but none came so far

- cravings for specific foods like empanada

- weird habits lately... I don't eat popcorn much but there were two instances ni midday I ate a whole bag of popcorn. I don't usually eat popcorn and when I do, I can only eat half of the bag.

- laziness

- frequent hunger that is so hard to resist so I end up eating a lot

- mother's instinct I believe to just touch my belly as if it is bulging already but it's not

However, I haven't done any home pregnancy test yet so I don't raise my hope that high...not until I go to the doctor and confirm if it's really TRUE.

Money Problems That Ruin Your Marriage

Hey folks time for a helpful and useful article I found online. I share this here because I know most of my reader/s on this blog are mostly married people. While you're on the verge of ending your marriage, try to sort things out before you decide to call it quits and see if it can help save your precious marriage.

1. Relationship Neglect

Pssst...sometimes arguments about money are actually about not paying enough attention to your marriage (do this to stop having the same fight), rather than your financial situation. When spouses feel neglected, they may resort to spending cash on items they can't afford or bring up their partner's buying habits as a way to retaliate for deeper issues. Examine the root of your fights and determine whether your fiscal concerns are actually a by-product of hurt feelings. Then, if necessary, get started on a marriage makeover.

2. Love Is Blind

At the beginning of a relationship, money often isn't an issue. Love can be intoxicating, and some spouses express their emotions by lavishing their partner with exorbitant spending sprees, jetting off to exotic vacations, and other costly pursuits (don't make these money mistakes). Then reality sets in, and couples have to worry about their rent or mortgage, kids and living expenses. A financial planner can help you get your finances back on track and develop a budget that you can stick to. Plus, set out some financial rules to follow as a couple.

3. When Women Are the Breadwinners

Women are the breadwinners in one out of three dual-income families today. Although earning more money can be beneficial, it also challenges traditional gender roles, so that wives may feel guilty about putting less time into mom duties while husbands may feel like they've failed somehow. Set up equal spending rights with your spouse so that you're both on the same page.

4. Keeping Up with the Joneses

It can be easy for couples to become envious of other couples' spending habits and feel like they need to live beyond their means just to keep up. However, this can lead to debt and put a significant amount of stress on a marriage. Do some digging with your spouse and work together to diminish these insecurities.

5. A Lack of Open Communication

Not knowing exactly where your money is going each month can spark resentment. Have an honest conversation with your partner where you both break down the spending in your household. Discuss your priorities and decide together if you need to cut back or add to a specific category.