Live Smart Daily | A Smart Take on Daily Life

We came across this great article from the Village Voice and had to share it.

Don’t worry about the banks, the crash, or the bailout. Sure, they’re awful. And yes, things will get worse. A lot worse. Worse than you ever imagined, probably. But you’ve been in tough spots before. Remember when you lost your job and went on unemployment for a while? This will be like that, only it will last for years. But you’re a New Yorker. You’re tough. Or at least you like to act that way when you’ve been drinking and listening to Nas. You’ll pull through, if you economize. And the new Depression will help by forcibly trimming some of the flab from your personal operating budget. Here are nine ways that will happen:
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As home heating costs go up, so do the number of scams that promise that you’ll reap huge savings if you spend thousands of dollars on large-scale home improvements.In fact, there are lots of companies out there promising that they can save you money on your energy bills but at a big price. So be very careful before you undertake a large home improvement project if your goal is to save money on home heating and cooling costs. Figure out how much you’ll really be saving each year — and then decide if it’s worth it. However, here’s the good news: If you’re worried that saving money on your home heating bills means spending a lot of money up front, worry no longer. We have ten simple and inexpensive ways to cut your home heating bills this winter.
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The government may not want to use the “R” word, but there’s no question that the economy is in trouble. It’s affecting all of us and causing us to tighten our belts. When it comes to medical care, telltale signs come early. Reports of increasing numbers of elective surgeries have been attributed to fear of potential loss of insurance coverage, similar to when rumors of company cutbacks surface.

Here are 5 Ways to Cut Costs While Staying Healthy.

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If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve heard the rumblings about saving energy by turning off electric appliances when you’re not using them. That means REALLY turning them off, not just hitting the “Off” button. Ever wonder how much you’d save? (thanks to GOOD magazine and MAKE)

Car guy Rob Gruhl from Ignite Seattle can help ease the jitters with a fast-moving, five-minute video on what to look for, how to haggle, and how not to walk off with a lemon. VIA Lifehaker

Great as these plans are, however, some 70% of parents saving for college don’t use them, according to the College Savings Foundation. Instead, they invest in stocks, bonds, funds or even cash through taxable accounts. Some say they can do better outside a 529. The question: Are they right? Read More.