Don?t apply for a new credit card or a loan unless you absolutely have to. Even though credit is needed at times, it is better to be out of debt and save for the big things everyone needs later in life. Cars and houses are things for which most people need to get loans.
Create a budget and follow it. You might think your expenses don?t exceed your income, but chances are you are wrong. Record your every transaction, even the most minor one. Ensure you go everything at the month?s end. This makes it easier to identify areas for improvement.
If you want to better manage your finances, you need to rid yourself of any outstanding debt. It all starts with making essential cutbacks, so you can afford bigger payments to your creditors. Reduce your food bill by eating at home more and going out less on weekends. Packing your lunch can save you big bucks. If you want to get out of debt, you?ll need to reduce the amount you spend.
Sell your old laptop. If it works, or can be fixed easily, it can be sold for a higher price than one that is broken. Even selling one?s broken laptop is a way to get a free tank of gas or other financial benefit.
Avoid incurring large debt through student loans, unless you are sure you can handle it in the not too distant future. You could wind up in serious debt if you pick a costly private school when you don?t even know what career path you want to take.
Choose in a smart way. Do you want to save as much as 100 dollars every month? Avoid the daily expense of specialty designer coffee by taking a thermos of homemade coffee to work with you. Expensive coffee drinks can cost around five dollars, but brewing your own is much cheaper. Put it in a thermos and drink it at work, too!
Buying a car is definitely one of the biggest and most important purchases you will ever make. The best way to find a reasonable price for an automobile is by shopping at the dealers nearby. The Internet is a good resource for good deals on cars.
In this economy, it?s best to have multiple savings plans. Keep some of your money in your savings account and some in your checking account. Invest some in gold, stocks and even in high-interest accounts. Using a variety of strategies will help you protect the money you have.
Each month, spend a few minutes going over your bank statement. This allows you to determine whether or not you have incurred additional charges or are subject to rate changes. It?s common for people not to look at their statements, which means they could be paying higher fees without realizing it. Due to this, always review your monthly statements.
If there is an item that needs to be bought but is quite pricey, look to your family to help purchase the item. Items such as a bigger TV that the whole family will enjoy, should be a part of family discussions about the budget, and children should be included in the conversation.
Having a college education can be helpful in finding a job and making a good salary. For example, if you finish a Bachelor?s degree program, you can earn double that of uneducated labor. If you want your wealth to grow as you do, then you will need post-secondary schooling.
Teach yourself how that you can get by on living without credit cards and any debt. In fact, work on ways that you can stop paying interest on other accounts, such as, loans, cars and your home. Ultimately, paying interest is a terrible waste of your money. With sound planning, you can put together a frugal lifestyle that doesn?t include paying for the questionable privilege of borrowing money.
As stated in the article above, managing personal finances is always more difficult when you have family to care for. To avoid getting over your head in debt or overspending unnecessarily, decide where your priorities lie and create a workable budget. Using the tips you have found here should help you to better utilize your income.
70 percent of beaches eroding on Hawaiian islands Kauai, Oahu, and MauiPublic release date: 7-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Marcie Grabowski mworkman@hawaii.edu 808-956-3151 University of Hawaii ? SOEST
An assessment of coastal change over the past century has found 70 percent of beaches on the islands of Kaua'i, O'ahu, and Maui are undergoing long-term erosion, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Hawai'i (UH) report released today.
Scientists from the USGS and the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at UH studied more than 150 miles of island coastline (essentially every beach) and found the average rate of coastal change taking into account beaches that are both eroding and accreting was 0.4 feet of erosion per year from the early 1900s to 2000s. Of those beaches eroding, the most extreme case was nearly 6 feet per year near Kualoa Point, East O'ahu.
"The inevitable fate of the Hawaiian Islands millions of years into the future is seen to the northwest in the spires of French Frigate Shoals and the remnants of other once mighty islands, ancestors of today's Hawaii, but now sunken beneath the sea through the forces of waves, rivers, and the slow subsidence of the seafloor," explained USGS Director Marcia McNutt.
"These data have allowed State and County agencies in Hawai'i to account for shoreline change as early as possible in the planning and development process so that coastal communities and public infrastructure can be sited safely away from erosion hazards areas," said William J. Aila Jr., Chairperson, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai'i. "This will vastly improve upon public safety and will ensure that Hawaii's beautiful beaches will be protected from inappropriate shoreline development."
Of the three islands, Maui beaches experienced the highest rates and greatest extent of beach erosion with 85% of beaches eroding. Erosion is the dominant trend of coastal change on all three islands with 71% of beaches eroding on Kaua'i and 60% of beaches eroding on O'ahu.
The researchers found that, although Hawai'i beaches are dominated by erosion as a whole, coastal change is highly variable along the shore with 'cells' of erosion and accretion typically separated by 100s of feet on continuous beaches or by rocky headlands that divide the coast into many small embayments. Most Hawaii beaches are composed of a mix of sediment derived from adjacent reefs and from the volcanic rock of the islands. Sediment availability and transport are important factors in shoreline change, and human interference in natural processes appears to have impacted the measured rates of change. For example, more than 13 miles of beaches in the study were completely lost to erosion nearly all previously in front of seawalls.
"Over a century of building along the Hawaiian shoreline, without this sort of detailed knowledge about shoreline change, has led to some development that is located too close to the ocean," said Dr. Charles Fletcher, UH Geology and Geophysics Professor and lead author. "A better understanding of historical shoreline change and human responses to erosion may improve our ability to avoid erosion hazards in the future."
The researchers used historical data sources such as maps and aerial photographs to measure shoreline change at more than 12,000 locations. Shoreline changes are measured in specialized Geographic Information System (GIS) software.
This analysis of past and present trends of shoreline movement is designed to allow for future repeatable analyses of shoreline movement, coastal erosion, and land loss. "The results of this research provide critical coastal change information that can be used to inform a wide variety of coastal management decisions," said Dr. Rob Thieler, sponsor of the study with the USGS.
###
The research was also supported by grants from a number of federal, state, and county agencies as well as non-profit organizations. The report, titled "National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Historical Shoreline Change in the Hawaiian Islands," is the sixth report produced as part of theUSGS's National Assessment of Shoreline Change project, which already includes the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts, as well as California. An accompanying report that provides the GIS data used to conduct the Hawaii coastal change analysis is being released simultaneously.
Research Contact:
Charles (Chip) Fletcher, 808.956.9513, fletcher@soest.hawaii.edu
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
70 percent of beaches eroding on Hawaiian islands Kauai, Oahu, and MauiPublic release date: 7-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Marcie Grabowski mworkman@hawaii.edu 808-956-3151 University of Hawaii ? SOEST
An assessment of coastal change over the past century has found 70 percent of beaches on the islands of Kaua'i, O'ahu, and Maui are undergoing long-term erosion, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Hawai'i (UH) report released today.
Scientists from the USGS and the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at UH studied more than 150 miles of island coastline (essentially every beach) and found the average rate of coastal change taking into account beaches that are both eroding and accreting was 0.4 feet of erosion per year from the early 1900s to 2000s. Of those beaches eroding, the most extreme case was nearly 6 feet per year near Kualoa Point, East O'ahu.
"The inevitable fate of the Hawaiian Islands millions of years into the future is seen to the northwest in the spires of French Frigate Shoals and the remnants of other once mighty islands, ancestors of today's Hawaii, but now sunken beneath the sea through the forces of waves, rivers, and the slow subsidence of the seafloor," explained USGS Director Marcia McNutt.
"These data have allowed State and County agencies in Hawai'i to account for shoreline change as early as possible in the planning and development process so that coastal communities and public infrastructure can be sited safely away from erosion hazards areas," said William J. Aila Jr., Chairperson, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai'i. "This will vastly improve upon public safety and will ensure that Hawaii's beautiful beaches will be protected from inappropriate shoreline development."
Of the three islands, Maui beaches experienced the highest rates and greatest extent of beach erosion with 85% of beaches eroding. Erosion is the dominant trend of coastal change on all three islands with 71% of beaches eroding on Kaua'i and 60% of beaches eroding on O'ahu.
The researchers found that, although Hawai'i beaches are dominated by erosion as a whole, coastal change is highly variable along the shore with 'cells' of erosion and accretion typically separated by 100s of feet on continuous beaches or by rocky headlands that divide the coast into many small embayments. Most Hawaii beaches are composed of a mix of sediment derived from adjacent reefs and from the volcanic rock of the islands. Sediment availability and transport are important factors in shoreline change, and human interference in natural processes appears to have impacted the measured rates of change. For example, more than 13 miles of beaches in the study were completely lost to erosion nearly all previously in front of seawalls.
"Over a century of building along the Hawaiian shoreline, without this sort of detailed knowledge about shoreline change, has led to some development that is located too close to the ocean," said Dr. Charles Fletcher, UH Geology and Geophysics Professor and lead author. "A better understanding of historical shoreline change and human responses to erosion may improve our ability to avoid erosion hazards in the future."
The researchers used historical data sources such as maps and aerial photographs to measure shoreline change at more than 12,000 locations. Shoreline changes are measured in specialized Geographic Information System (GIS) software.
This analysis of past and present trends of shoreline movement is designed to allow for future repeatable analyses of shoreline movement, coastal erosion, and land loss. "The results of this research provide critical coastal change information that can be used to inform a wide variety of coastal management decisions," said Dr. Rob Thieler, sponsor of the study with the USGS.
###
The research was also supported by grants from a number of federal, state, and county agencies as well as non-profit organizations. The report, titled "National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Historical Shoreline Change in the Hawaiian Islands," is the sixth report produced as part of theUSGS's National Assessment of Shoreline Change project, which already includes the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts, as well as California. An accompanying report that provides the GIS data used to conduct the Hawaii coastal change analysis is being released simultaneously.
Research Contact:
Charles (Chip) Fletcher, 808.956.9513, fletcher@soest.hawaii.edu
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Twitpic was once the de facto standard for photo sharing on Twitter. Before Instagram and Twitter's own photo-sharing solution, the service worked a treat, allowing us to compress our photos and share them in the twinkle of an eye. The app resided as sort of a symbiotic pilot fish near Twitter's gaping maw. Now, however, it's angling for center stage.
LG revealed two Google-loaded TVs at CES, but never gave us prices or told us when these LED models might dangle their skinny bezels in stores. In briefings at Google last week, we heard that the 47-incher (47G2) and 55-incher (55G2) would sell for $1699 and $2299 respectively -- although Amazon already has them listed significantly cheaper than that. Now, to complete the jigsaw, Reuters has quoted LG exec Ro Seogho as saying that these Google TVs will ship in the US from May 21st. In the meantime, check out our hands-on from Las Vegas, because that new QWERTY-equipped Magic Motion remote is especially enticing.
The Star Wars saga continues! The Force Unleashed: Art of the Game chronicles the four-year development of the anxiously awaited, action-packed video game (releasing April 2008) developed by LucasArts from conception to completion. The book reveals innovative game design concept and images, three-dimensional renders, and behind-the-scenes photos. The Force Unleashed game casts players as Darth Vader?s ?Secret Apprentice? and promises to unveil new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. The expansive story, created under direction from George Lucas, is set during the unexplored era between Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The game re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force by taking full advantage of new technologies that will be seen and experienced for the first time, such as Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) by Pixelux Entertainment and euphoria by NaturalMotion Ltd., paired with the powerful Havok Physics (TM) system. These new technologies create gameplay only possible on the new generation of consiles. DMM incorporates the physical properties of objects in the environment so that every element reacts exactly as it should?wood breaks like wood, glass shatters like glass, Felucian plants bend in their unique way, and more. Meanwhile, as a revolutionary behavioral-simulation engine, euphoria enables interactive characters to move, act, and even think like actual human beings, adapting their behavior and resulting in a different response every single time. Well before its release, The Force Unleashed game is already buzzing on blogs and gamer websites, at gamer conferences, and among Star Wars fans. LucasArts is fully backing the promotion of the game to the tens of millions of Star Wars fans around the world.
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Public release date: 7-May-2012
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Twitpic was once the de facto standard for photo sharing on Twitter. Before Instagram and Twitter's own photo-sharing solution, the service worked a treat, allowing us to compress our photos and share them in the twinkle of an eye. The app resided as sort of a symbiotic pilot fish near Twitter's gaping maw. Now, however, it's angling for center stage.
