Advice Hound

Archive for the ‘Misc.’ Category

Congratulations to Terri C. in West Baden, IN!  Terri was the winner of last week’s giveaway.

We get a lot of personal finance questions and this week we are giving away the book “Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey.  This is a great book for those folks looking to get their personal finance houses in order.

Again, in order to win this book, simply send a question for advice to question@advicehound.com. You may send as many questions as you would like and each question will be considered a separate entry. You have until Sunday July 19,2009 at 11:59  pm EST to enter.  We will draw a name at random and contact you via email for your mailing address. In the event you do not respond to your email within 24 hours, another name will be drawn.

Just a note. Only submit questions that are publishable. Any inappropriate questions (you know what we mean) will be disregarded. We will publish the winner next week at which time we will have another giveaway.

Thank you and good luck!

JUST A THOUGHT

The old adage is true ‘Health is Wealth’ and there is nothing more important than trying to maintain your health. Unfortunately, sometimes health issues arise which are out of our control, but you still need to do whatever is in your power to manage and control those aspects which are controllable. Specifically, eat a diet recommended by your physician, get regular physical exercise (to the extent your illness allows), take your medications as directed and try to develop a positive attitude. These things, in conjunction with developing healthy personal relationships and seeking mental support, will help ensure a quality life regardless of your diagnosis.

Dear AH:

Can you recommend any cheap gifts I could give my girlfriend. It’s her birthday and I’m short on cash. Thanks.

Budgeting Boyfriend

Dear Budgeting:

Inexpensive gifts aren’t necessarily cheap gifts. A cheap gift is something that you buy merely because the price is right. An inexpensive gift is a gift you choose that suits the occasion and the gift recipient, but just happens to not cost a lot of money. Without knowing your girlfriend, we could recommend anything that shows time and effort, not necessarily lots of money. Examples: A nice dinner cooked by you at home along with rented DVDs of her favorite movies; If you are a musician, write a song about how much you care about her; or Give her the spa treatment at home- run her a scented bath, paint her toe nails for her and then give her a full body massage (this is a favorite gift here at Advice Hound). Remember, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to give a great gift, just be thoughtful and considerate.

Dear AH:

I have been working in a office for about a year now, my first job, and I am starting to see the spread, as in my butt. I have never really had a weight problem, but it’s like I’ve ballooned overnight. I really don’t eat any more than I usually do, but my clothes are getting tighter. It getting so I don’t want to go shopping because I know I’ll have to buy a bigger size, but I’m going to have to do something soon. Any advice?

Gaining Experience and Weight

Dear Gaining:

Congratulations, we have just become part of the sedentary career club which includes unlimited weight gain if you don’t watch yourself. It’s a sneaky weight gain because you think if you don’t change your eating patterns, then your weight will stay the same. Unfortunately, the hours of sitting and inactivity take a toll. The good news is that you’ve noticed the problem before it has gotten out of hand. That being the case, the prescription for this problem is exercise. Yes, we know you didn’t want to hear that, but it needs to be said. Getting into some routine now will help stave off future pounds and help you get yourself back in shape. One of the best recommendations we’ve heard is wearing a pedometer to track your steps through the day (at least 10,000 steps per day is recommended). This will help you gauge exactly how sedentary you’ve become and help develop a fitness program to suit you lifestyle and health needs. Just a side note, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor before beginning any exercise program or to check that there is not a medical reason for the recent weight gain.

Dear AH:

My roommate is one of my dearest friends. Recently her cat (I’ll call her Mittens) died and you would think that the world has ended. My friend refuses to go out, she won’t eat and sits and cries all the time. I understand she was very close Mittens, but it’s getting old. At first I was supportive, but now I just want to tell her to get over it. Am I being mean or do I have a point here? Thanks for your input.

Over It

Dear Over:

Do you have a point? Yes. Is your friend being a drama queen? Maybe not. We understand what it is like to see someone acting overly distraught at the death of a pet. It can be annoying and just seem like a cry for attention. Maybe it is a cry for attention and you should be a little more sensitive to what is going on here. Has your friend recently had a run of bad luck or has she been under a great deal of stress? The death of a pet may exacerbate an underlying issue and cause your friend seemingly overreact. Additionally, Mittens may have been her source of coping with other problems and her death felt like the loss of a trusted friend or family member. Regardless, just be patient with her and offer your support. If she feels like talking about it, lend a sympathetic ear and just listen. Sometimes that’s all anyone really needs to move on after a personal, tragic event.  RIP, Mittens.

Do you have a question or need some advice? Please feel free to contact Advice Hound at question@advicehound.com.

JUST A THOUGHT

Everyone knows that when giving someone a gift, its best to consider the recipient and their likes and dislikes before choosing the present. But what about the recipient? What are their obligations in this gift exchange?

Dictionary.com defines “Gift” as “something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion or make a gesture of assistance..” Note that nowhere in the definition does it state that the gift giver is obligated in any way to present the gift to the recipient. In fact, the exchange is, by definition, voluntary.

We have often heard someone complain that the gift they received was inferior or unwanted, but they forget that the gift giver was under no obligation to give it anyway. Simply being grateful that someone took time, and possibly money, to favor or honor an occasion for you is a gift in itself and the actual present should not be judged merely by material value.

So next time you receive a present, say ‘thank you’ and mean it. Your gratitude is a present to the gift giver as well as your own spirit.