Saving Money

Cutting Healthcare Costs:

Get Smart: Take the time to learn healthy strategies. Just one small change in your health - cutting fat or taking a brisk walk after dinner - can make a big difference in your health. If you have a medical condition, it can also help to research your options using the Internet and discuss any promising treatments with your doctor (who may not have the time to keep up on all the latest treatments for your particular set of symptoms.)

Think Positively: Numerous studies have shown that optimists are healthier than pessimists. Optimists who get sick have faster recoveries when they are ill or injured, which mean less money spent on medical care. In addition, positive thinking can help bolster your immune system, as well as give you the energy and drive to take care of yourself.

Sleep On It: Most Americans are sleep deprived -- and that's expensive.The National Commission on Sleep Disorders estimates that sleep deprivation costs $150 billion a year in higher stress and reduced workplace productivity. It is also a leading cause of auto and workplace accidents. If you are not getting enough sleep, either because of your schedule or because you have trouble sleeping, it's critical that you decide today you'll start working toward a solution.

Start At Home: Most of us think of "auto" when we think of "accidents." But more Americans are killed in accidents at home than when driving. Spending a little money on basic safety measures such as investing in smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher, buying a solid step ladder, putting non-stick pads in the tub, keeping cleaning products and chemicals from children, and locking up any guns, can save you money and heartache in the long run. A quick Internet search on "home safety" will turn up numerous resources and suggestions to make your home safer.

Buckle Up! If it doesn't save your life, it can save you a small fortune in medical bills. Plenty of research studies back up the fact that you'll be safer in an accident with a seatbelt than without.That goes for back seat riders as well. Research shows that those riding in the front seat (even with seatbelts) are significantly more likely to be injured if those in the back seat are not buckled up.

Keep Kids Safe: Most parents now know that young children should be buckled in car safety seats, in the back seat of the vehicle. But many move them out of car seats too soon. In fact, children as old as eight or nine may still need a booster seat.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration points out that crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 5 to 14, in part due to the nonuse or improper use of child safety seats.To ensure children's safety, the NHTSA recommends children remain in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4'9" tall.

Keep Your Head: Whether you bicycle, skateboard, inline skate or ride a motorcycle, wear a helmet - and teach your kids to do the same. 70 to 80% of cycling related fatalities, for example, result from head injuries, and many could be prevented if helmets were worn. Ask an emergency room physician whether it's important to wear a helmet - they'll tell you! If you or your child still think it's "not cool" to wear a helmet, check out this site www.bhsi.org where cyclists share real stories about how helmets may have saved their lives.