Sugar Free Jo

In the wake of the Equifax breach last summer, I'm sure there are many people who feel a certain amount of apprehension when it comes to discussing or even thinking about their credit report. If, like me, you're in the fifty percent of Americans whose, information was hacked and stolen in the breach, then you are understandably nervous and probably angry at the sloppy manner Equifax and our government have responded. Aside from freezing your credit there is not too much you can do to protect yourself. But, before you choose to freeze, you need to educate yourself as to how this could impact you. Your credit report is used/examined in many transactions that you might not be aware of such as job applications, rental applications and buying insurance. Freezing your credit won't stop you from doing any of those things and it won't affect your credit score, but it will complicate the process because you will need to first unfreeze your credit with at least one and most...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the government agency that enforces financial laws and protects consumers. Their mission:  "We aim to make consumer financial markets work for consumers, responsible providers, and the economy as a whole. We protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices and take action against companies that break the law. We arm people with the information, steps and tools that they need to make smart financial decisions." Their website is a great resource for information on a number of topics such as auto loans, school loans, mortgages, credit reports, and debt collection. I highly recommend reading these topics prior to beginning a financial transaction such as a loan or mortgage so that you are aware of your rights, the potential impacts to you and so that you are better able to negotiate in your best interest. If you have a problem with a financial institution, you can also submit a complaint on their website.  Click h...

I hate junk mail! I hate the space it occupies on my desk.  I hate the time it takes to look at it and shred it. But, most of all, I hate the risk it poses in the form of unsolicited credit offers.  But, there is good news! You can opt out of these offers with a little work on your part. The Federal Trade Commission provides all the information you need to make an informed decision on what this means to you and what is required. If you decide to opt out you will need to provide the following information: name, social security number, date of birth and home telephone number. This information will remain confidential and is only used to process your request.  You will have to choose whether you want to opt out for five years or permanently.  To opt out for five years :  Call 1-888-5-Opt-Out (1-888-567-8688) or go to  https://www.optoutprescreen.com To opt out permanently either:  Begin the process at  https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t...

In my humble belief, to be mentally aware you must be able to be present in the moment. If you're present, then you're able to gauge the emotions you're experiencing and make decisions that affect your mood and behavior. Hopefully, you're not thinking I'm so arrogant as to believe this is a simplistic process. On the surface it looks simple, but being present takes commitment and practice. This is work folks, but the benefits are well documented. When you are present, you are able to focus. When you are present you are able to see the good in your life. When you are present you are able to assess changes you need to make. When you are present you are able to efficiently manage your workload. When you are present you are open to other people's needs and able to help. So I encourage you to stop and make a decision to be present today and everyday. One way to work on this is through the use of meditation. Here is an article from the Mayo Clinic  on the bene...

It’s important to maintain a healthy gut. This means you need to pay attention to maintaining a healthy balance between the good and bad bacteria naturally found in your body. Probiotics, are a source of the good bacteria. These probiotics keep your immune system strong. They are destroyed by sugars, carrageenan (an additive commonly found in dairy products), and antibiotics. These items are commonly introduced into our diets so it is important to watch out for them and avoid them when possible. Some good sources of probiotics include yogurt, sauerkraut, miso and certain types of cheeses such as Gouda. There are also beverages such as kombucha or kefir that provide probiotics. Watch out with yogurt as most brands add a lot of sugar. Try plain yogurt and add your own berries or other fruits. As an added benefit, plain yogurt can double as sour cream in recipes. Prebiotics are the food for the good bacteria. Some sources of prebiotics are onions, bananas, oatmeal and legumes. T...

While you may not know exactly how much sugar is in soda, you do know enough to realize it's too much! Well the key to really understanding is in visualizing what that means and you need to understand the math if you're going to do this. On ingredient disclosures/lists sugar is listed in grams. How much is a gram? The best way for most of us is use a more common measurement, the teaspoon. One teaspoon = 4 grams Regular soda can contain 39 grams of sugar. 39 divided by 4 equals 9.75 teaspoons My first tip for making a change to reduce your sugar intake is to drink water (obviously!) or as a refreshing alternative, ice tea. Tea is pretty easy to make. Add water to tea bags and then leave it alone. You can speed up the process with regular tea bags by placing your pitcher or jar in the sun or purchase tea bags made for cold brew processes.