A Baker's Dozen of Grocery Coupon Websites And Resources

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Fred Vanhoosen


Coupons, coupons, coupons. Have you got the idea?

In the past, many people read newspaper and magazine articles about and watched news segments showing others who often food shop for free using coupons. The average family often does not have the time to organize and purchase food in bulk to make such a stupendous leap into savings.

As a result, many people just either tune out the story or think that there is no applicability of coupon use in their own daily purchases or expenses. They are wrong because saving money using coupons does not have to be an all or nothing proposition. Even small actions can save families small money over time and big money on major purchases.

The savings are applicable to both services and products. This is especially due to the current state of technology and internet search engines, which allow for any major search engine to return a substantial number of hits to locate coupons.

The best place to locate coupons will often be the merchant's website site itself. You should always check the merchant's online store or web site. Usually on the front page is a reference to either direct savings or a section to click for coupons.

Another source for finding coupons will be coupon web sites. These sites provide both printable and online coupons for savings not only at supermarkets for food, household items and other goods, but also for retailers and service providers.

A Baker's Dozen of Grocery Coupon Websites:

http://www.ShopAtHome.com/

http://www.GroceryCouponsUSA.com/

http://www.Coupons.com/

http://www.CouponChief.com/

http://ShortCuts.com (from AOL)

http://www.GroceryGuide.com/

http://www.SmartSource.com/

http://www.ValPak.com/

http://www.RedPlum.com/

http://www.PPGazette.com/

http://www.CouponMom.com/

http://www.GroceryCoupons4U.com/

http://www.CouponMountain.com/

Before you go shopping for tires, clothing, flowers for any occasion, sports equipment or make any other purchase, check to see if the retailer has online or printable coupons.

Before you hire anyone for any type of service, check to see if the service provider has online or printable coupons. Printable coupons are just what they sound like. You print the coupon right from your computer, bring it to the retailer and get a discount on your purchase. It can be as little as 5%, but in most cases it is up to 25% off your purchase or more.

Major retailers, book stores and most other merchants usually have online printable coupons. While they are not available from every merchant all of the time, you can find them often enough to save money on purchase you would be making anyway.

Online coupons allow you to show them at the retailer's online store and enter a coupon code at check out, which will enable you to receive the stated savings on your purchase.

In addition, not only can you find coupons for food and other purchases you make at supermarkets in your weekend newspaper, but also on online coupon web sites. Just a few minutes of searching any major coupon website will yield weekly savings on products such as cereals, contact solution, butter and any other item you normally purchase.

While not every item has a coupon available every week, the savings of even $5-10 per week can help you to save money on your food bills.

Printing coupons and using them at the store or entering a coupon code at the online site of a merchant is a quick and easy way every family can use to stretch available spending dollars, without spending a lot of time and effort to find those savings.

Coupons are truly the next best thing to having your own money printing machine.


About the Author:
Fred Vanhoosen writes about money issues. While he recommends that one should be careful about using cash advance loans in times of dire need, he also knows that sometimes we need fast access to fast money to cover an unexpected expense. When that happens, Fred recommends http://www.fastcash4all.net/ for your payday loan needs.


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Surprising Ways You Can Get Lower Auto Insurance Quotes

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Sarah Simmons


Auto insurance is mandatory by law in most states, but insurance can be expensive, especially during the current economy. As a consumer, it's always a smart idea to seek assistance from an impartial third party Insurance Quotes site and let the insurance companies earn your business.

Shopping around for insurance quotes can ensure drivers receive the best rates, but how can you make sure you are getting the lowest auto insurance quotes possible? Certain factors can affect how high or low your auto insurance quotes are, and one of the easiest ways to get lower auto insurance quotes is to keep your driving record clean.

While most drivers know the most common traffic laws (don't speed, stop at red lights, signal for turns, etc.) you might be surprised at some of the laws that will not only drive up auto insurance quotes, but most likely result in the loss of your license. Not only is it expensive and difficult to get your license back, but once you do, your auto insurance rates will shoot through the roof.

To avoid adding points to a driving record, (and to keep auto insurance rates low) avoid the following infractions:

Failure to Install an Ignition Interlock System

If you ignore a court order to install an ignition interlock system, you'll get hit with a one-year suspension and be charged as a disorderly person.

Lying on an Application

The state comes down hard on false data. If caught submitting false information on your license application, you can possibly face prison time, fees as high as $500, and lose your driving privileges for up to two years.

Refusing a Breathalyzer Test

The state equates refusal to taking a breathalyzer test with having a BAC of .10%. Regardless of if you're innocent or not, your driver's license will be immediately suspended for up to one year. In addition, you may be hit with an MVC insurance surcharge of $1,000 per year for three years.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

The penalties increase with each conviction. A first DUI offense will result in losing your license anywhere from three months to one year and spending up to 30 days in jail. A second DUI that occurs within 10 years of the first offense will cost you up to 90 days in jail and a two-year suspension.

Driving without Car Insurance

Don't test this law. Insurance is mandatory. Failure to have coverage will result in a one-year suspension, fines up to $1,000, a $250 surcharge for three years, and possible community service.

Accumulating Points on Your Driving Record

If you accumulate a total of 12 or more points on your driving record, regardless of what the points were for, the MVC will issue a Notice of Scheduled Suspension of your driving privilege.

Abandoning a Vehicle

If you leave your vehicle for four hours or more on or along a limited-access highway without permission, you'll face a fine of up to $500 and possibly lose your license for up to two years. Any subsequent violations could possibly result in a five-year suspension.

Hit-and-Run

Leaving a scene of an accident, especially when injury or death is involved, is a major crime. Even if you're innocent, you'll still face heavy repercussions including fines of up to $5,000, possible jail time, and loss of license for one year.

Failure to Pay Child Support

Possibly the most surprising infraction, if you fail to pay six months of court-ordered child support payments, you'll lose your license until all payments are made.

Loaning Your Driver's License

If caught loaning your license to another driver, you'll get hit with fines as high as $500, possible jail time, and a suspended license.

Insurance companies look at each driver's record before offering an initial auto insurance quote. The number of years that an insurance company looks back changes by company, so if you had a poor driving record five years ago, but have improved your driving record over the last three years, try looking for insurance companies that adjust rates according to a three-year record.




About the Author:
Article written by: Sarah Simmons. For nearly 2 years, http://www.InsuranceQuotes.com/ has been a major resource for consumers interested in lowering their insurance costs. Helping thousands of people save money nationwide, InsuranceQuotes.com stands firmly behind the belief that everyone deserves affordable insurance.


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Tips for Homeowners: Simple Measures You Can Take to Save Your Home from Fire

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Sarah Simmons


You may have homeowners insurance that provides coverage for damage to your home resulting from fire, but this coverage cannot protect your loved ones or memories in the case of fire, it only covers material objects. Every year, 4,000 Americans die in fires, and the vast majority of those deaths occur at home. Each year, 100,000 homes are destroyed, 40,000 family pets are killed and uncounted irreplaceable family treasures are lost forever to fire. Tragically, most fires are preventable. Don't depend on your homeowners insurance, taking just a few simple measures around your home can help prevent a possibly fatal fire.

Home Heating Systems:

The leading cause of fires in the home is faulty heating equipment. Home heating systems can include furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves or space heaters. A few things that you can do to ensure that your home heating system is safe:

Change your air filter regularly to ensure that your furnace isn't overtaxed.

Don't leave piles of newspaper or other combustibles within two feet of your furnace.

Your furnace should be checked regularly by a professional. The flame should burn a bright, steady blue and should never come outside of the furnace.

If you hear or smell natural gas leaking from your furnace lines, evacuate the house immediately and use a phone outside the house to call 911.

Fireplace chimneys need to be cleaned out frequently and inspected for cracks and obstructions.

Never burn trash, paper, or green wood in your fireplace.

Use a fireplace screen that is both big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks and heavy enough to stop rolling logs.

Inspect and clean your wood stovepipe and chimney on a regular basis and check monthly for damage or obstructions.

Keep combustible objects away from wood stoves.

Only use heaters with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety listing.

Never put anything on top of your space heater.

Never leave the heater unattended or with unsupervised children.

Both electric heaters and kerosene heaters should be unplugged or turned off if you go to bed or leave the house.

Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene in your kerosene heater - never gasoline or camp stove fuel.

Never use an oven or stove to help heat your home.

Smoking in the Home

While home heating systems are the number one cause of fires in the home, cigarettes are the number one factor in home fire fatalities. Follow these safety tips for smoking in the home:

If you do smoke, be sensible.

Do not leave cigarettes, cigars, or pipes unattended.

Don't smoke in bed.

If you begin to feel drowsy while watching television or reading, extinguish your smoking materials in a safe container.

Use a large, deep, metal or glass ashtray with wide lips.

Never put ashtrays on the arms of sofas or chairs.

Water down cigarette butts and ashes before dumping them.

Store matches and lighters up high and out of children's sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.

Do not put ashtrays in a location where children or pets could knock them over.

Arson

The number two cause of fire-related deaths is arson. Intentionally set fires claim the lives of more people each year than all natural disasters—including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes—combined. A little diligence around the house, along with a watchful eye for strangers, can make a world of difference:

Most arson fires are fueled with combustible material found nearby. Keep properties clean, and keep flammable liquids safely out of sight, locked in a shed or garage.

Learn about arson trends in your area.

Start a neighborhood watch program to prevent arson and other crime.

How to Handle a Kitchen Fire

Many household fires start in the kitchen. Untended cooking and human error account for most of these fires - not mechanical failure of stoves or ovens. Here's how to handle a kitchen fire:

Call 911 immediately. Prepare for the worst and don't hesitate to call.

Smother frying-pan fires by covering with a lid, then turn off the heat with the lid in place until the pan cools. Do not try to carry the pan outside because this could seriously burn you if the contents spill out.

Other food fires may be extinguished with baking soda, so try to keep an extra box stored in an upper cabinet location. Never use water or flour on cooking fires.

Turn off the heat to smother oven or broiler fires and keep the door shut.

Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it.

General Fire Safety Tips

Keep children away from open flames and electrical receptacles.

Make sure your smoke alarm is maintained and working properly. Check batteries twice a year (a good way to remember to do this is to check smoke alarms when you change the clocks at the beginning and end of daylight savings time).

Have a smoke alarm in every level of your house.

Keep your emergency numbers near the telephone.

Always call the fire department for any fire, even if the fire has been completely extinguished.

Have a fire evacuation plan and practice it with your family.

Insure your Home

Last but not least, although homeowners insurance can not save your life or priceless memories, it is an absolute necessity to protect yourself against damage to or the loss of your home and its contents. Most mortgage lenders require some level of hazard insurance for your home, but you should always get additional homeowners insurance to make sure you are fully protected. When shopping for a homeowners insurance quote, it's important to research the insurer, understand the policy, and choose the right amount of coverage. Policies vary from one company to another, so you should get a homeowners insurance quote from several different companies before deciding on one.

At a non-biased, third party insurance quotes site consumers can choose the type of insurance they are interested in receiving a quote for, fill out a form online, and within minutes a request is submitted. At that time, local insurance agents contact the consumer to discuss their insurance needs and compete for their business. Consumers can then choose from the best offer they receive.




About the Author:
Article written by: Sarah Simmons. For nearly 2 years, http://www.InsuranceQuotes.com/ has been a major resource for consumers interested in lowering their insurance costs. Helping thousands of people save money nationwide, InsuranceQuotes.com stands firmly behind the belief that everyone deserves affordable insurance.


Read more Articles written by Sarah Simmons.

Clean Your Office and Get Back Six Weeks of Time!

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Rochelle Melander


The Wall Street Journal reported that people lose as much as six weeks a year just searching for information. Can you afford that kind of time loss? No one can. Yes, you can work in chaos—but you are going to lose time and focus. You will work more efficiently when your workspace is clutter free. Start by committing yourself to a clean desktop. You cannot think about big ideas if your desktop is full of action items. Here's how to make your office clutter free right now.

1. Move (or move out) Keepsakes. Keepsakes can be just as distracting as stacks of work—and they need to be dusted! Move half of your keepsakes out of your office. Cindy Arlinsky, founder of Organizing Matters suggests moving the remainder of your keepsakes off your desk and onto walls or shelves.

2. Move the Tools. So what else do you keep on your desk—an electronic pencil sharpener, paper clips, and a stapler? Gayle Goddard, The Clutter Fairy, says, "If you have a bunch of office tools on the desk that you use less than once a day, get them off the desk. Put them in a file cabinet or on a bookcase or in a closet." Keep only your most essential office tools on your desk.

3. Create Color-Coded Action Files. Give each one of your work projects a color-coded action file. Use your desk drawer for these action files. "That one drawer is prime real estate that can be reached while you are sitting in the desk chair. That drawer should be used for your current action files," says Gayle Goddard. "That way whatever you are working on currently is immediately accessible while you work, and can be easily put away at the end of each day to clear off your desk."

4. Create Project Shelves for writing and work projects that need more space than a file or two. Each book I am writing gets a shelf. That way, I can keep a project notebook, research materials, and research books visible and in one place. I've now added shelves for clients and other work projects. It keeps the information off my desk (and floor) but still in sight.

5. Hello Notepad. Is your computer hard to see because you've covered it with real and electronic sticky notes reminding you to call the doctor? STOP! Organizer Cindy Arlinsky says, "Jot down phone numbers, order confirmations, travel data, and other urgent information in ONE spot. You'll save time retrieving information and minimize clutter."

6. The Magic Twenty. Set aside 20 minutes at the end of each day to clean up your office. Deal with the emails in your inbox. Put away project files and tools. Toss extra papers. Return dirty dishes to the kitchen. Then shut down the computer, turn off the lights, and close the door.

A clean, well-organized office will make you more productive. Besides that, you'll have reclaimed the time you used to spend searching for information. With that extra time, you'll be able to take on more work or even take a vacation!




About the Author:
Right Now! Coach Rochelle Melander supports people in writing to transform their lives and businesses. If you're ready to establish credibility, make more money, and market your work by writing a book, blog, or Web site, get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.rightnowcoach.com


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Holiday Apartments In Florence: The Best Choice For Your Vacation

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Roberta Aloisio


Traveling to Italy and the beautiful city of Florence are on the "bucket list" of just about everyone. The natural beauty of the peninsula combined with its historical significance and the reverence for art, culture and food; make the appeal universal. You want to cherish your memories and photographs for the rest of your life and have an unforgettable experience.

As a traveler, when you log on to the Internet and start looking at all the options available for lodging for your vacation, what are the factors that are most important? You want accommodations that give you the most enjoyable experience you can possible have. And for anyone staying in the ancestral home of the Medicis for more than a few days, the winning option is one of the many short term apartments Florence boasts.

Why does an accomodation give a traveler a better experience? The multitude of holiday apartments in Florence available for tourists give them a more comfortable stay and make the experience more like that of a relaxed traveler than that of a rushed tourist.

When one looks at the variety of available apartment rentals in Florence go out the window, you can find everything from a cozy little one bedroom for a couple taking a Tuscan honeymoon to a refurbished palazzo that can accommodate three generations of extended family. With the increased privacy and the increased livability of short term apartments, Florence is more like a temporary home than a tourist destination.

In the later part of spring and first part of summer, holiday apartments in Florence are at their peak so it is best to book well in advance in order to get the most suitable location and most amenities. The huge number of international students that study in the city, generally leave after the first part of the summer, which frees up quite a few of the more casual apartments for travelers.

Many of the residence apartments Florence has to offer are year round vacation rentals. They are furnished with all that you need to have a home-like experience in the cradle of the Renaissance. Kitchens for preparing any of the little treats you come across in the food markets, ample space for an evening at "home" after a long day of wandering the curving cobblestoned streets of the city and locations throughout the city to suit the tastes of almost any guest.

If you want to spend your vacation time in Tuscany in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, then choosing one of the holiday rentals in Florence is a perfect idea. The convenience of the facilities and slower, more Italian pace of traveling are perfectly suited to a one, two or more week stay in one of the holiday apartments sprinkled throughout the city.

You have the convenience of being able to travel easily to a host of beautiful towns and the warm Mediterranean shore with the wonderful train system and the ability to absorb the city and all it offers, like a real Italian.




About the Author:
Roberta Aloisio works as a real estate agent in Florence and she's specialized in holiday accommodation rentals. She collaborates with That's Italy, a professional organisation that offers a wide range of apartment rentals in Florence: short term luxury apartments and holiday homes located in the most beautiful areas of the city. Take a look at http://www.thatsitaly.co.uk


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The Holy Spirit Guide

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 David Raets


It is hard to argue the fact that no matter what the point of debate, whenever any subject regarding religion is approached there is a real tendency for argument. Bear with me because there is a very real correlation to the subject of this text with the way we raise to the defense of our beliefs. These arguments are not simply against non-believers, or those who do not share our particular faith... these arguments can spring up between the closest of those sharing the same faith. Any point of faith is an extremely personal emotional trigger that has as much of a defense in our core as the need to protect our family and home.

Of all the debates and arguments revolving around belief none is quite as confusing as that surrounding the Holy Spirit. It is easy for people to accept that the Holy Spirit is the word of God handed down to those in ancient times and that the Bible is a resource of those encounters. What is hard for many to truly grasp and accept, even when their minds recite the concept, is that the Holy Spirit is more than just ancient words on a page. The Holy Spirit lives and breathes today as much as centuries ago. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are alive within each of us if we choose to accept this most gracious gift from God.

In fact, the fullness of the Holy Spirit cannot be contained in the written word. Anyone who feels the overwhelming satisfaction of being filled with the Spirit of God knows that. It can hardly be put into words even though we try. We try because we are compelled to share the joy we feel within us and even as we attempt to explain the feeling we have it can be frustrating because we know we fall short. Take heart, however, because you do not have to live up to the feeling through your words. No one can and only those who are touched by the gifts of the Holy Spirit will ever completely understand. You are compelled by the Spirit within you to share the news that God is with us and within us, but you are not expected to change anyone's mind. That is for God himself, and that person to undertake.

One of the reasons so many people have a hard time accepting the presence of the Holy Spirit inside of them is how we live in the hectic world today. Everything is so full of commotion it is hard to "be still". It is hard to listen to that voice that speaks softly to us, guiding our steps and actions. The blessing from God is that if we accept the gift in baptism of the Holy Spirit we can never be separated from it. It can't be taken by any means of man. Nothing can tear it from us - nothing but us ourselves. The only way the Holy Spirit can be taken from us is for us to intentionally deny it, and send it away from us. This is a lot harder too than it sounds, because it takes more than a disgruntled anguished statement of anger towards God made in pain or distress. Some think that because they have cursed God during hard times he is no longer with them but nothing could be further from the truth. God does not leave when things get tough. His Holy Spirit hangs in there even when we are not listening, even when we are angry and in pain, and unless we actually say get out, it will never leave.

Think about that. Even in the deepest despair and pain it is rare for someone to actually say those words. They may ignore the voice inside or be unable to hear it when life is so hectic and crazy that the noise from without drowns out all within, but people who are not completely turned to Satan do not actually say those words.

And the most blessed news of all is that even if someone does say those words God loves them so much that all they have to do is say please forgive me, I believe, and he will rush back in with the strength of a million tides and replenish that broken soul.

The fact that the Holy Spirit is always at work in the world and seeking to reconnect with those who are lost is one of the reasons we are so compelled to share with others how we feel and what we believe. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are always being sown. It is present in the Word of God, it is present in our words, and it is present in our actions. We present a living proof that God exists in the world and is ever caring and loving.

Know that no matter how you present it, whenever you speak of your love and the fulfillment of God's presence in your life, whenever you read from the Holy Bible or others read the Word of God, the Holy Spirit rains down upon them. This Holy Spirit rain will flood their soul and they will hear your words with all of the resonance of God's own voice if they are willing to let it enter.

Keeping that in mind will allow your spirit to flow freely and give you the ability to share the Word of God without argument. Knowing that the greatest Gift from God is that nothing can ever take his Holy Spirit from you and that all you have to do is share what you feel and he will do the rest.


About the Author:
Written by David Raets. For more on the gracious Gift of the Holy Spirit and how it can enter your life or how you can share it, visit The Holy Spirit Guide (http://www.HolySpiritGuide.com)


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Write a Book and Catapult Your Company to New Heights by Branding Yourself As an Expert

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Charles Jacobs


Taming the recessionary tiger is not as difficult as you think. Forget the old patterns of spending big bucks to buy advertising or blast postal mailings to thousands of possible buyers. The dollars aren't there to spend in a broken economy. Today every penny has to count, and that happens only when you define your market exactingly and tailor a message that is meaningful to it.

We are in a world of specialization. People in every niche seek information both on and off line. You can be the person to whom they turn to find that information. There is a way to brand yourself as an expert and to make your business or professional office the place customers or clients think of first. When reporters need a quote or perhaps some background material for a story they're working on, make sure they turn to you, not to one of your competitors.

Raising Your Reputation

It is almost axiomatic that your reputation rises to new heights when you write and publish a book. And in today's world, for the first time it is easy, fast and inexpensive to turn your words into print.

New printing technology has give birth to a new generation of publishers. Publishing on Demand (POD) has swept through the industry, churning out thousands of books and boosting the reputations of their authors. With this process, books can be printed in any quantity you need to use as promotional tools. They can be rapid-reading booklets of 30 or 40 pages or they can be full blown books of anywhere from 75 to 200 or more pages.

Journalism today has moved strongly into specialization. You can send the book to members of the press and to broadcast journalists who write about topics related to your product. They may review your book or simply write a blurb about it, sending hundreds of readers to your web site, office or store.

Once recognized as a leader in your field, you may well be asked to speak at various functions, adding further to your reputation. All of these possibilities are part of the program of branding yourself...identifying yourself as an expert.

Getting Assistance

Perhaps you have a talented staff member who can write the book with you. Or even for you. You certainly have the option of turning to a professional writer to ghost write the book. It is done frequently. If you don't require that degree of assistance, contact a Book Coach to help you over the occasional bumps.

It is highly likely that your business is already represented by a web site on the Internet. Add a page to the site about yourself and about your book. What a wonderful opportunity to sell your book from the site and not have to pay commissions.

You may want to piggy back on the book and write articles for distribution throughout the Web. Hundreds of thousands of people will see your piece and hopefully a percentage will respond. You can distribute these articles at no cost by using online article distributors.

Once your book has been written, you can take portions of it and either rewrite them or run them as excerpts. In either case, your workload is minimal because you are drawing on something you have already written.

Writing for Trade Journals

You undoubtedly read some of the trade journals published in your field. Editors of these publications are hungry for informative, meaningful articles. They care far less about your writing style or ability than they do about the content you can provide. Their staffs can polish what you write and turn it into quality pieces, but they must first rely on you to supply the content.

Every article you write offers a perfect opportunity to attract business. The article itself must be informative. It can't be a press release or a selling tool for you or your product. But at the end, as you have seen so many times when you read, the bio box about the author becomes a free advertisement for you.

Fill the box with information that invites your reader to visit your web site or buy your product. Provide enough information to allow the reader to trust you because of your credentials. Never forget that trust is a major factor in attracting a potential and closing a sale.

By following this approach you quickly build confidence in your expertise and as a result in your product. Print and broadcast journalists today search the Web for likely stories and for experts who can be used in those stories. A few references to you or your business in print or on the air will raise your rate of sale to unexpected heights.

If you are running a practice or a business, you are a knowledgeable professional or an informed businessperson. Harness that unique background and turn it into one of the most inexpensive, but most effective methods of branding yourself as an expert and promoting your company as one of the leaders in its field. It is an ideal way to offset the depression blues.




About the Author:
If you need help writing your book, contact award winning author and book coach Charles Jacobs at coaching(at)wisewriter.net for a free consultation. His latest book, The Writer Within You, has been named one of the Best Books of the Year by seven organizations. Axiom awarded it a gold medal in the business category. It is available at all bookstores or on the Web at http://www.retireandwrite.com/


Read more Articles written by Charles Jacobs.