Healthy Living:Money and Insurance

Money Q and A: Saving On Organic Foods and More

November 21, 2008
organic-produce-save-money

Istockphoto
From Health magazine

Q: During the holidays, my office turns into fund-raising central. How can I politely decline these requests? Read More

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Money Q and A: Savvy Holiday Shopping Tips and More

October 19, 2008

(ISTOCKPHOTO)
From Health magazine

Q: I’m looking for deals—am I better off shopping the day after Thanksgiving or closer to Christmas?

A: Black Friday (aka the day after Thanksgiving) is when retailers offer the best discounts—typically 20% to 35%, though especially aggressive stores may offer seasonal merchandise like winter coats at 50% off. The problem with putting off your shopping until closer to Christmas is that most stuff won’t be dramatically marked down until December 26. To get the true deals, get out of the house early: You’ll often find bonus discounts during the early-morning hours. And lots of companies have Black Friday “Internet only” specials, too. Log on to www.dealsofamerica.com for a list of these bargains. Read More

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Expert Advice on Real Estate in a Down Market

July 21, 2008
From Health magazine

Q: We need to sell our home, which we recently bought. To help us break even, would it be smart to try to sell it ourselves?
A: Probably not. With houses currently languishing on the market for up to 10 months, you’ll need all the help you can get to quickly move your home. Good agents know the most recent comps (prices of comparable homes that have sold in your area), so they can help you set the right price, which should make your house sell faster and for more money. In fact, the median home price in 2007 for sellers who used agents was $240,000, compared with just $180,000 for homes sold by owners, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). An agent is also better equipped to market your home, using open houses, print advertising, and a multiple-listing service, which alerts area brokers (and their clients) to your place. Finally, a seasoned realtor can cull buyers with the best financial profiles and smooth over concerns on the path to closing. Read More

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Stay Healthy for Way Less

April 22, 2008

Use this guide to save on the products you need and see which ones you can live (healthily) without.

Vitamins
Worth it? Yes, if your food choices aren’t cutting it.

Most experts say you don’t need to take vitamins if you eat a diverse mix of fruits and veggies, lean meats, legumes, and whole grains. Problem is, if you don’t eat well, are a vegetarian, have a food allergy, or are pregnant (or hope to be)—categories that include most of us—you might not be getting the nutrients you need. In that case, an inexpensive multivitamin may give you peace of mind. Look for a brand that has 100% of the daily recommended values of vitamins and minerals and has the USP seal, which means that U.S. Pharmacopeia, the organization that verifies the ingredients and quality of dietary supplements, has given it a thumbs-up. Store-brand multivitamins go for about $3 to $6 for 100 tablets, compared with about $8 to $10 for brand names. Don’t spend money on additional supplements (fish oil, vitamins D and C) unless your doc has ID’d nutritional gaps. For instance, if you aren’t getting enough calcium from dairy (1,000 milligrams for 19- to 50-year-olds), pop a daily Tums with calcium (150 tablets cost $5 to $6).
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Work Out for Way Less

April 22, 2008

Cost-efficient exercise without the ratty sweats or laps around the basement—here’s how to save on a first-class workout.

Expensive sports bra
Not all women need a crazy-supportive sports bra. “If you’re small-breasted and doing low-impact activities, you can go to almost any retailer and buy a comfortable seamless bra that’ll be absolutely appropriate,” says LaJean Lawson, PhD, an adjunct professor of exercise and sports science at Oregon State University. “But women with a full C cup and up can’t get by with a less-structured bra.” That’s when it’s wise to spend $30 to $50 for support; test it by jumping up and down in the dressing room. For the best fit, get measured by a pro at a bra shop; then head to a sports or specialty-running store for a large sports-bra selection. If you don’t have a good retailer for sports bras nearby, try TitleNine.com, which has a great return policy.
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Eat Healthy for Way Less

April 22, 2008

As long as healthy food costs more than junk, we’ll seek the best choices for both your belly and wallet.

Organic food
If you’re tossing organic produce into your grocery cart with wild abandon, the final bill might be wince-worthy—you’ll typically spend 30% to 50% more than you would on the conventional type. But there’s a real difference: About three-quarters of traditionally grown produce show traces of pesticides, while only one in four organic fruits and veggies do, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Splurge on organic produce with soft skin or that you eat skin and all (like apples, peaches, bell peppers, strawberries, pears, and lettuce), but save on foods that are fairly pesticide-free thanks to their tougher outer layers (like bananas, kiwifruit, onions, mangoes, pineapples, and broccoli). Wash all items well with soap, water, and a brush, but skip the fancy veggie and fruit washes; the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) don’t recommend them.
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What’s Your Healthiest Bargain?

April 22, 2008

You shared your best ways to stay healthy for less.

$5: Pedometer
My healthiest bargain was an inexpensive pedometer. It was the easiest way for me to start moving. My goal was to reach 10,000 steps a day. It helped me know when I was being active and when I needed to move more. I started parking further away so I could get in my steps. Soon, I started to lose weight and felt better about doing other exercises in addition to walking.
—Stacey Copenhaver; Stevens, Pennsylvania
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Q and A: Get Healthy About Money

April 21, 2008

How to end bottom-line battles, build up college savings, and more—from
finance coach Lynnette Khalfani-Cox.

Q: My husband and I constantly fight about money, especially when things are tight. How can we get on the same page? Read More

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Nine Secrets Health Insurers Don’t Want You to Know

March 7, 2008

Health insurance companies like to keep secrets. And they like to save money. Example: You have surgery, and weeks later you get a bill for using an out-of-network anesthesiologist. Ridiculous, right? You didn’t choose who put you under, so you shouldn’t have to pay extra. But your insurer sent the bill anyway, hoping you wouldn’t notice.

Fighting back against this kind of trickery—and winning—is a lot easier than you think, says Kevin Flynn, president of Healthcare Advocates, a Philadelphia-based firm that helps patients wrangle with their health plans. We checked with Flynn and other insurance-industry insiders, lawyers, doctors, and regulators to uncover nine little-known ways to get the health coverage you deserve—for less.

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