Viewpoints Industry Shares How Kids can Balance School and Chores

Children grow up learning that they have to make their beds, put away their toys and belongings and keep their rooms clean. Others are given extra chores to do to earn a bigger allowance or some extra spending cash. These can be easy to manage during the summer. But what happens when school starts?

The school year is often filled with homework, sports, after school activities and friends. To be sure children know that their chores still have to be done, parents can start the fall semester with a family meeting to explain what’s expected when it comes to chores. Viewpoints Industry suggests a friendly meeting with snacks and creative, fun ways to choose who will do each chore.

Create variety with house choirs by rotating them among the kids. Write them all on separate pieces of paper and add a treat such as a free pass from chores. Fold and toss the paper into a bowl, box or hat and each child picks one out. To ease the pressure on children who have a lot of homework (as it seems they all do these days), all the tasks that need to be done can be weekly and not daily.

The start of school is a challenging change for everyone in the family. New schedules are created and altered as the semester runs its course. Viewpoints Industry TV believes that with a little help from everyone, including dad, no one will feel heat to get it all done.

——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Facebook

How to Buy a New Computer for Less from Viewpoints Industry

Computers do not last as long now as they did before. To find and buy a new one, Viewpoints Industry proffers some suggestions about how to buy a new one for less.

A brand-new computer is much like a brand-new car. Everyone wants the latest, greatest model with all the bells and whistles. But no one wants to spend a lot of money to get it. Thrifty people know how to shop savvy for what they want for less money.

Consider what purpose the equipment is needed. If it is just for browsing the Internet, checking and replying to email, paying bills and other lightweight tasks, consider a computer with less bells and whistles.

Consider a refurbished laptop or desktop. Much like a previously-owned vehicle, it has been examined, cleaned up and problems are corrected. It runs just as well as a new one but costs far less. Conduct an Internet search on refurbished computer from the manufacturer desired.

Consider upgrading. Many desktops can be upgraded for far less than ditching the old and getting a new one. Add more memory to it or increase the hard drive space with an external drive. Ask friends and family who are computer smart for help.

Viewpoints Industry also suggests waiting for sales on the types of equipment wanted. These are when the best deals can be found and when consumers can save money of some spiffy new digital toys. Happy computer and laptop hunting, readers.

——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Facebook

Viewpoints Industry – Best Things to Buy in August

August is the month when back to school deals are sweet. It is also the month when summer clothing and bathing suits and the like go on sale. Viewpoints Industry reveals the best things to buy in August and what to avoid.

Check state websites for the tax-free weekend on back to school supplies. Florida’s was last weekend. The tax-free weekend can save families a bundle on school stationary supplies, clothing, uniforms, laptops and more. The state website should have a list of what is tax-free during this time.

Summer essentials and outdoor items are on sale now. This means bathing suits, shorts, lightweight shirts, sandals, beach and pool toys, beach towels and more. Sign up for email alerts from favorite catalog companies and save even more. Stock up for the remainder of the summer and early fall when the weather is still warm.

Avoid big ticket home appliances like washing machines and dryers, holiday items, smart phones and tablets, and travel plans for the holiday season. Labor Day and Black Friday are creeping up quickly and this is usually the better time to get a good deal on large home needs. Viewpoints Industry suggests taking advantage of summer sales both in the store and online. Stash the money saved into a savings or retirement account and feel better knowing that you saved twice.

——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Facebook

Viewpoints Industry Offers Tips for First Time Homebuyers

Buying a home for the first time is one of the biggest financial decisions anyone can make. There are many aspects to it that can boggle the most reasonable mind. Viewpoints Industry shares some tips for first time home buyers to help ease minds.

Young people, typically around age 30, are eager to find and buy their first home. Eagerly, they go online and find homes which seem affordable and are just what the buyer wants. But let’s take a look at what one needs to do first before hitting the Internet for that first dream home.

More than three-quarters of prospective home buyers are pre-qualified for a home loan. Yet many of those are not clear on the terms of the loan. Before getting pre-qualified, spend time hammering out a monthly home budget to see what is affordable without  having to scrape by. Find ways to cut back on spending such as eating more meals at home, taking lunch to work and skipping expensive coffee purchases.

How much of a down payment can be put on the home?  Typically, if less is put down, the private mortgage insurance is higher, interest rates are higher and closing costs are higher. Save as much as possible toward the down payment to reduce these fees.

Can one afford the monthly mortgage payment? How much will that be? Mortgage payments are not the same as rent. If the payment is late, fees incur. If one is more than 30 days late, the credit rating of that person takes a huge hit.

Viewpoints Industry also suggests regularly checking credit reports and scores during the lending process. Go online and find the best free resources for this, and to find the best calculators for determining mortgages and loans.


——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Facebook

Viewpoints Industry Shares How to Get Rid of Telemarketers

Remember the national Do Not Call list? The list most people entered their land line and cell phone numbers on to not be bothered by telemarketers?  We know it is hard to believe but telemarketers keep calling anyway. Viewpoints Industry shares tips on how to get rid of them.

A recent consumer report from ABC News led us to the website of a company called Privacy Star which lists all the phone numberstelemarketers are using now. The once well-known 800 and 866 numbers are gone and standard area codes are in. We also learned there are ways to get rid of telemarketing calls as well as making some money off of those who ignore the list. The key to the list which is linked above is to know that the numbers on the top of the list are used more frequently than those closer to the bottom. The list is updated hourly.

Viewpoints Industry finds one of the easiest ways to block telemarketing calls is to manually block the number on a smart phone or on a cell provider’s web site. This might prevent the call from coming through. If the phone number is new, register it on the do not call list. If calls still come in, it is possible to sue the telemarketer for $500 per call. One can also join a class action lawsuit or file one alone. Since telemarketers call more than once, the possibility of winning more than $500 is likely. Good luck.

——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Facebook

Viewpoints Industry and Borrowing from a 401(k) Plan

There are times when it is absolutely necessary to borrow from a 401(k) retirement plan. Viewpoints Industry shares the types of loans to take that won’t hurt you in the long run.

Keep in mind that some plans and some employers have set rules on taking a loan from a retirement plan. If you need to borrow money from the plan, it is best to know that you won’t lose your job soon and can pay it back within the timeline given. Payments are taken from your paycheck. That is something else to remember before taking money from a retirement plan. Always be sure to read all of the terms and conditions before signing on the line to borrow money from the plan.

If you find yourself out of work with a lot of credit card debt, consider borrowing from the plan to pay off the debt. But be sure there are enough funds in the plan to do this. If wanting the loan to buy a new car or home, traditional loans are better and the percentage rates are usually better.

The 401(k) loan is good for a short-term loan rather than a long-term loan. Viewpoints Industry suggests holding off from borrowing from a retirement plan if possible. The funds growing in the account will be needed when it is time to retire. With the economy still struggling to get on track and the job market looking iffy at best, save those funds for the future. Instead, go to a financial website like bankrate.com and see if there are any banks willing to compete to give you a better loan deal for your needs.

——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Facebook

Viewpoints Industry Sheds Light on Auto Insurance Discounts

The cost of owning a car or other vehicle keeps rising every year. From gas to maintenance to safety, where can the consumer catch a break? Viewpoints Industry suggests looking for discounts that the auto insurer may not know about and are worth asking for when it is time to renew.

Instead of living with the rate the auto insurer gives, start asking for the discounts which might be available and check regularly to be sure they are being given. Many people choose the auto pay option when renewing insurance plans. But do a little research on available discounts first and then call the agent to get them.

Daytime running lights – Auto makers General Motors, Toyota , Volvo, Mercedes-Benz or Subaru already have this option on newer cars. If your car has daytime running lights, be sure to mention this to the agent before renewal to request this discount.

Alumni discount -- Almost half of the nation’s insurers offer some type of discount if you or a spouse belongs to an alumni association, fraternities, sororities, or professional organizations. If you belong to one or more, ask if a discount is offered.

Anti-theft devices, anti lock breaks, military service, safe driving record, kids of driving age with excellent grades – these are some of the other discounts one can take advantage of. Viewpoints Industry TV also knows that it pays to have a good credit score since that is the one item most likely to reduce the rate in the first place.

——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Facebook

Viewpoints Industry Offers Food Safety Advice for Summer

In most parts of the United States, it is hot and humid outside. It is also grilling season. Viewpoints Industry TV offer suggestions on how to keep food safe from bacteria when sun is beaming.

Picnics and outdoor parties are the norm during the pleasant days and evenings of summer. Let’s keep all food safe from anything which can make us feel like a beached jellyfish.

• Keep all food made with mayonnaise refrigerated before serving. Find, buy and use eggless mayo if needing it for salads and sandwiches.
• Avoid making anything with eggs and leaving it on a table outside until ready to eat.
• Oysters should be cooked, boiled, broiled or fried to avoid consuming virbrio, a warm salt water-based bacteria. If one has to have them raw and on the half shell, throw out any that have a cracked shell or are partially open since the salt water can enter them that way.
• Grill food at lower temperatures to avoid charring it. The char burnt portion of meat contains chemicals which can be carcinogenic. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat reaches the right temp to kill bacteria.
• Raw meat should be stored in the fridge or freezer. Defrost frozen meat in the fridge overnight, in the microwave, or in a bowl of cold water. Never leave it on the counter all day long in the summer.
• Wash all summer fruit such as peaches and strawberries carefully to rid them of pesticides. Keep them fresh in the fridge.
• Going to a farmer’s market? Be sure to go early instead of later in the day. Vegetables that have been sitting in the heat too long start to go bad.

The Viewpoints Industry TV show wishes everyone a safe, healthy and happy summer.


——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Myspace
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on About Me

Viewpoints Industry – Save Money on Air Conditioning Costs This Summer

Weather forecasters predict this summer to be one of the hottest on record across much of the country. This means electric bills will be sky high as we try to keep cool. Viewpoints Industry TV offers some tips on how to save money on air conditioning costs.

Programmable thermostats are inexpensive to buy and easy to set up. They regulate cooling costs by giving the consumer the ability to set a day and time to turn on and off the air conditioning. There are a good many options to choose from in local home stores. Another way to control A/C costs is to find an app which allows the user to turn the A/C on or off when home, at work or on vacation. Many cable providers now offer this kind of service. It can save the average home about $250 this summer.  Check with the local electric company to see if they offer a discount or rebate on either oft these two energy savers. For every degree we turn the temperature down to cool off, our bill goes up about $24.  If none of the above are in the family budget, close the blinds on the side of the home where the sun shines in during the day. This should cool it off fairly well. Viewpoints Industry also suggests to check on window and door caulking. Be sure it is sealing cool air in and hot air out. Save money on air conditioning costs this summer so there is more to spend on vacation.

——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Myspace
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on About Me

Viewpoints Industry on Simple Steps to Protecting Your Privacy

(sign out on social media and other online accounts every time)

It seems like nothing is safe from possible hack attacks these days. Everything from smart phones to brand-name store customer databases are being broken into with personal info stolen. Below are some simple steps to take to protecting your privacy.

Password protect everything you can from smart phones to online accounts. Create strong passwords using a varied number of small and capital letters, numbers and symbols. Viewpoints Industry TV cautions readers to not use the same user name and password on all accounts.

Protect your good name. Add a Google Alert for your name and keep tabs on it. Do a search first to find out what variation of your name is most common on Google. It takes very little time to set up an alert and may prevent someone finding something not too flattering about you before you find it.

Sign out of every account you sign on to on the Internet. This is one of the most easily forgotten things to do. Sign out of social media sites, online financial accounts, email accounts and online retailer accounts. By doing this, you are reducing the opportunity someone else has of gaining personal information about you. And it is imperative to sign out when on a shared computer or a public computer.

Viewpoints Industry also suggests not giving personal information to anyone who asks such as department stores and medical offices. Keep your phone number, SSN, birth date and email private. Because you just don’t know what the person who took it, or overheard you give it, is going to do with it.

Protecting your privacy is essential in today’s digital and electronic world where the most cunning can get and use data that can harm you later. It’s simple and takes very little time to closing and locking the door on data theft.

——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Myspace
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on About Me

Viewpoints Industry TV and How to Stay Cool This Summer

It current weather conditions are telling, this summer promises to be a scorcher across the country. Viewpoints Industry TV shares suggestions on how to stay cool this summer.

Sometimes, just looking at the morning weather forecast is all we need to know that it is going to be another sweltering day. Fortunately, there are ways to stay cool when the mercury keeps going up and up.

Go to the movies for the matinee. Enjoy someone else’s air conditioning and see a movie while there. There is an added bonus that this screening is usually less expensive than the evening screenings. Double coolness.

Take a cool shower and stand under a ceiling fan to cool off and dry. Please be sure the curtains or blinds are closed when doing so.

Put pillowcases in the freezer a little bit before going bed. It is easier to get to sleep when there is something cool under the head.

Viewpoints Industry suggests to eat to for the heat. Make and enjoy cool meals like fun salads, cold pasta dishes and refreshing beverages like cherry lemonade. Drink plenty of water too. Staying hydrated is a great way to cool off.

Finally, do as they do in the South – put a spoon or knife in the freezer. Take it out after an hour or so and press is on pulse points like the neck and wrists. Stay cool and refreshed this summer, readers!

——————————————————- 
Follow Viewpoints Industry TV on Google+ 
Visit the Viewpoints Industry TV Pressroom
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on Myspace
Visit Viewpoints Industry TV on About Me