How to Enjoy Your Coffee Addiction on a Tight Budget

Still trying to feed your coffee addiction while on an extremely tight budget? Is the economy's recession forcing you to become an uncaffeinated horror to your coworkers, children, or husband? Fear not; there is affordable, good quality coffee out there. It's not Starbucks, but you'll get used to it.

Step 1:Realize that you may have to give up Starbucks until your wallet is a little bit bulkier. But don't fret; cappuccino-like coffee does exist outside of Starbucks, for a fraction of the cost.

Step2: Go to your nearest gas station. Chances are, there is at least one "cappuccino" machine inside. These are powder-based coffee drinks combined with hot water to create a tasty coffee treat. The powder is loaded into the machine and contains the caffeine and the flavoring (mocha, french vanilla, etc...). When you put the cup under it and press the button, hot water is added to the powder, making a frothy flavored coffee drink.

Step3: Get over it! So it's not Starbucks, but it's still good. At a gas station, you can get a decent-tasting flavored 20-24 ounce cappuccino for $.99 to $1.40. You get some flavor, you get some caffeine, and you get to save some money! You can't beat a 24 ounce coffee for $1.40! Starbucks doesn't even carry a 24 ounce coffee! And the cups are usually insulated styrofoam, so the brew stays nice & hot!

Advice:

• Try the French Vanilla flavor first. You won't be disappointed.
• Check for current sales & specials. A newly-opened convenience store had 24 ounce cappuccinos for only $.49! That's right: forty-nine cents. Can't beat that!
• Take a sip on the way to the cash register, just to make sure the water was hot & the mixture is perfect. Sometimes the powder begins to run out and you get mostly hot water.

Being Successful & Happy in the Face of Adversity

In today's economic slump, jobs are being lost and families are being put under strain. Financial problems are the number 1 cause of divorce in America today. Don't want to end up broke, alone, and miserable? Here are a few ideas to keep your head up & your heart happy.

Be thankful for what you have. The old saying goes "Have what you want; but want what you have." You should pause and take stock of your life. Examine all that you own & possess, and not just the material objects. Think about your boyfriend, husband, children, parents, and friends. Realize that you have it good. You have people that love you and want the best for your life. You have people who look up to you and emulate you. And there are people that inspire you. You have a roof over your head, and most of your bills are getting paid. Things could be much worse.

Which leads to the second point: remember that there is always someone worse off than you. Quit having a pity party for yourself, and reverse your thinking. Count your blessings instead of wallowing in self pity. If you totally reverse your thinking like this, you'll suddenly become grateful and selfless, realizing that you have indeed been blessed.

And when you realize you've been blessed, you'll want to bless others in return. Giving your money, time, and energy, to help another person is the greatest act of love you can do. And perhaps there has never been a better time to serve somebody else than right now when everyone else is busy looking out for Number One; themselves. Besides meeting a basic need, volunteering or helping someone else will satisfy your soul and will make God smile.

Be true to yourself. Do what you want to do. Don't let anyone make you think that you don't deserve what you want in life. Have big dreams, and pursue them! This time of economic crisis is not a time to be frozen with fear; it is a time for you to get creative to achieve all those wonderful dreams you have. You may have to sacrifice to get there, but anything worth having is worth fighting for, right? If it was easy, it wouldn't be nearly so worthwhile to obtain. If you want to quit your "traditional" job and do something that you love but may be frowned upon because it seems less conventional, then weigh your options, consider carefully, then do it!

You were given talents & dreams for a reason. Perhaps God wants you to use one of them, and trust Him with all the other details? This is between you & God, so discuss it and see what He says. He may say "no", He may say "yes", or He may say "not yet." But whatever the question, you can be sure that He will answer, although it may not be the answer that you wanted. But His plan for our lives and our plan for our lives are sometimes not the same.

Look for the "good" in all circumstances. Have you heard the story about the lady who had a recurrence of a very fast-moving form of breast cancer? She would not have known about the tumor growing silently & undetected in her armpit, unless she had been hospitalized with a near-fatal injury. The doctors were able to save her life by running a series of diagnostic tests, revealing her malignant tumor, which would not have been found otherwise, if she had not already been in the hospital for a serious injury. She said that she had lived through the horrible accident; so she was going to live through cancer as well.

She is an example of someone who finds the good in everything, even if it is obscured. This way of thinking will keep you motivated, happy, upbeat, and optimistic, against all odds. Isn't that the best way to be in this world?

Know when to work hard, and when to rest. It takes hard work to get anywhere worth being in this life. But you also must remember to take a day off, sleep in, kiss your wife, work in your garden, take an evening walk, or laugh at your favorite comedian. You need to let your brain and your body rest and recooperate. Lay those heavy burdens on God; He is much stronger than you so He can carry them much easier! Enjoy living; soak in all the beauty of life. If you don't take time out for these important times, then what's the point of all the work? Don't you work hard so you & your family can enjoy a happy life? Well that life begins right now, if you let it. Your family doesn't want a bigger house or more spending money; they want you & your presence at the dinner table.

Have you ever heard anyone on their death bed say, "Oh, I wish I would've worked more...." No! They lament that they didn't spend enough time with family and didn't soak up life to the fullest. Don't work so hard that you have no time left for enjoying life. What a shame that would be.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You know that you are your harshest critic. When your inner critic starts belittling you for something that happened long ago or yesterday, give that inner critic a name and tell it to get lost. Realize that you did the best you could, and you may have fumbled the ball, but tomorrow is a new day and you will remember the lesson you learned. Learn the lesson and move on. You owe that to yourself.

Chicken Soup For the Heart

A new study published in the Journal of Agriculture & Food Chemistry suggests eating chicken noodle soup often can help keep your blood pressure levels normal. The chicken meat contains collagen proteins, which may inhibit the production of angiotensin-converting enzymes, substances that can narrow blood vessels and raise blood pressure.
To get all the benefits, though, choose a low-sodium version, because too much salt will simply raise your blood pressure again. Exceeding the 2,400 milligram daily amount for sodium intake can lead to hypertension.
And of course, chicken noodle soup usually has lots of veggies, which also provide a heart-healthy punch!
(from SHAPE magazine, March 2009, Volume 28, #7)

The All Natural "Pain Pill"

Here's more great benefits of Vitamin D: the vitamin aids calcium absorption, to keep your bones strong and keep osteoporosis at bay.
If your muscles and joints hurt after a hard workout or a long day at work, your body could need more than just an aspirin. Those aches & pains could be a sign that you're not getting enough Vitamin D. Stewart B. Leavitt, Ph.D, says that "Vitamin D aids in muscle tissue growth and calcium absorption. Without enough calcium, the outer layer of your bones can become soft and spongy, making them more susceptible to painful stress fractures and over time, osteoporosis and arthritis."
For the safety of your bones, consume at least 1,000 IU of Vitamin D daily.
Because the primary source of Vitamin D is unprotected sun exposure, which may raise the risk of skin cancer, Leavitt recommends taking a Vitamin D supplement daily. "Look for brands with D3, which is absorbed easier than D2."
If you take care of those bones, they will take care of you later.
(from SHAPE magazine, March 2009, Volume 28, #7)

Colon Cancer Info

Colon cancer has long been considered a disease that affects mainly older men, but colon cancers also strike 71,000 women a year.
Although experts recommend regular colonoscopies starting at age 50, if you have inflammatory bowl disease or a family history of colon cancer, talk to your doctor about having the procedure earlier.
Any cancer caught early has a much better chance of being overcome, so get yourself checked.
(from SHAPE magazine, March 2009, Volume 28, #7)

Always Sick?

Researchers at the University of Virginia examined households of cold sufferers and found that 42% of household surfaces--such as fridge door handles, remote controls, and light switches--were infected with germs.
"Viruses can live up to 2 days outside the body," says study author J. Owens Hendley, M.D. "If they get on your hands and then you rub your nose or eyes, they can make you sick."
Protect yourself by cleaning these areas frequently and washing your hands with soap & water.
(study from SHAPE magazine, March 2009, Volume 28, #7)

Lose No More Than 2 Pounds a Week

Wanting to lose those extra pounds quickly? Be careful!

Experts recommend shedding no more than 2 pounds a week, or your body may lose disease-fighting capabilities (because of a lack of necessary nutrients) and you may become more susceptible to illness, including the dreaded flu virus.

Also, experts say that if you lose weight slowly, it is much more likely to stay off in the long run. So no crash dieting! Lose those pounds slowly!

(from SHAPE magazine, March 2009, Volume 28, #7)