One of the top causes of house fires is candles. Even with electricity being the main source of light, people like to light candles for spiritual or personal reasons. Candles can be used as a source of light for a romantic dinner, aroma therapy or to deodorize the air. Unfortunately, people misuse candles by leaving them burning overnight or leaving the home while the candles are still burning. Candles melt away and can drip hot wax on something flammable or a piece of paper may accidentally fall onto the candle. If you like to burn candles, make sure to blow them out when you’re done using them.

The second top cause of home fires involves heating appliances. This includes space heaters and fireplaces. A lot of house fires take place between December and February because of their use. Make sure to keep flammable items at least three feet away from fireplaces and heaters.

The main cause of house fires is due to cooking. A lot of home fires related to cooking have to do with the individual leaving the pots unattended for too long or accidentally leaving a cooking mitt or other flammable material near a burning eye. Make sure to always keep an eye on the food you’re cooking and that no towels or other items are near the stovetop.

It’s expected that these numbers will climb even higher as more cases have been filed by dozens of investors, who are scheduled for arbitrations through 2013. One California law firm alone is representing 65 investors who have filed for arbitrations, totaling north of $50 million. A law firm in Florida is representing 25 complainants who are looking to obtain tens of millions of dollars. Some of the investors that have received settlements include Callaway Golf board chairman, a cable TV developer in Florida and an entrepreneur in New York.

Citigroup is being investigated by the SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission, which started back in May of 2008. Some of the investments that were being made include alternative investment funds like MAT and ASTA. These funds were marketed to high-net-worth investors who made investments between $250,000 and $1 million. Altogether, Citigroup was holding billions of dollars in investments for these funds.

The financial advisors at Citigroup told investors that the funds would yield between 6% and 8% in returns on managed investment in municipal bonds, which would give them higher returns than investing in the actual bonds. Then they were told that this strategy would keep the risk low.

To the contrary, the investors saw that the MAT/ASTA investments plunged 80%, at around $1.5 billion in losses. The investors filed arbitrations that Citigroup breached fiduciary duties, committed fraud, recommended unsuitable investments and other charges. These funds were advertised as being an alternative for fixed-income investors who were looking for investments that didn’t have a high risk. On the company’s emails, it showed that MAT/ASTA had a 5 credit risk rating, which is the highest and most volatile of all levels. Financial advisers at Citigroup said they weren’t informed about this so they weren’t able to relay the info to their clients.

The formula goes a little something like this:

Between ages 25 and 30, you will need to save $100 monthly, which should leave you with $7,085.08 (if your interest rate is 6.8% annually). Then between 30 and 35 years old, you will need to up the amount you save to $250 per month. This will leave you with $27,557.40, if the annual interest rate is the same.

Then from 35 to 40 years old, you will have to save $500 a month, which will leave you with $73,716.30 in your savings account. Once you reach 40 years old, you will need to save $750 per month until you reach 50 years old, translating to $269,297.19. Finally, between 50 and 65 years old, you save $1,000 per month. At the end when you reach retirement age, you will have $1,028,531.61 in your bank account.

Of course, this style of saving all depends on the type of career you have and how stable that job is. If you are working in a job field that gives you regular annual raises and you are able to stay out of debt, then you should have no problem with increasing your monthly savings as you age.

A medical oncologist, Dr. Jack Jacoub, from MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, doesn’t fully recommend that people start popping a Bayer every day. He says that is could possibly help, but not necessarily. Dr. Jacoub told Booster Shots that daily aspirin has already helped people to prevent colorectal cancer in high-risk groups. Basically, it would be recommended for high-risk patients, but for people who have a normal risk for colon or other forms of cancer, the recommendation would be up for debate. There hasn’t been much data collected that shows proof of aspirin having a positive effect on other cancers and the data aren’t consistent. Then there are the bad side effects of taking aspirin, such as stomach bleeding.

The research has only showed that aspirin helps to prevent cancer in the colon, but scientists aren’t sure why it might or might not slow down other types of cancer. Dr. Jacoub pointed out that cancer causes inflammation in the body and blood clotting, both of which aspirin can combat.

Dr. Jacoub treats patients that have been diagnosed with colorectal, breast, and lung cancer. He has high-risk colorectal cancer patients take daily aspirin and his other patients that are on aspirin therapy for other conditions are told to stay on it. Beyond these groups of individuals, he doesn’t recommend daily dosages of aspirin, but as research shows more positive data, this could change.

Taking daily aspirin for prevention or treatment of cancer shouldn’t be done outside of the care of a medical physician, so make sure to consult with your practitioner to see if this is something that would be good for you.

1. Your interest rate is over 6%. Recently, mortgage loans have had record low interest rates, which means that you are definitely missing out if your loan has a higher than 6% rate. A lot of homeowners are being advised to refinance their loans, so that they can take advantage of the dropping mortgage rates, saving around $175 monthly afterward.

2. The interest rate on your mortgage loan recently climbed. This likely occurred because you have an adjustable rate mortgage, or ARM, which in definition is legally able to be adjusted with the rises and falls of the economy. Again, you can consider refinancing your loan and this time around, picking up a fixed rate mortgage, so that you can lock in the savings that you can witness.

3. Lots of late payment fees. If you’re having problems with making your mortgage payments on time, then there’s definitely a problem with the rate.

4. The other bills in your home aren’t being paid on time because all of your money is going towards your mortgage. Even if you’re making your home payments on time, if you’re not able to take care of the other financial obligations in your home, then this is a sure sign that you’re overpaying.

5. No financial cushion in sight. Every American should have a safety net of funds, so that you can be able to take care of financial needs in case you were to lose work or suffer a pay cut. Financial planners recommend that Americans have a six to twelve month savings that can cover your mortgage and other living expenses. If you’re unable to save enough to pay your mortgage for one month after losing work, then there’s a big problem with your financial situation.

Groupon and Similar Sites

Let’s face it; restaurants do not have many reasons to dole out coupons. In trying times, many barely make enough money to get by. However, sites like Groupon and Living Social make it possible for certain groups to offer their own versions of restaurant discounts. The restaurants feel more comfortable with this set-up, since the discount only applies if Groupon gets enough applicants to make the deal profitable, and everyone can win. You just need to spend a little time looking online.

Reward Programs

All right, we take back part of that “no discounts” rule. There are additional ways you can eat for less, but they involve loyalty and reward programs. Many companies create deals with large workplaces, so you may have discounts or coupons through your employer, waiting to be cashed in. Sites like Opentable, iDine, and Upromise Dining also help build up points if you pick out a favorite restaurant and eat there often.

Eat a Little First

This is an easy solution, because it involves eating (yum) and saving money (also yum). Have a low-fat, low-cost snack before you go out to eat. Grab a bag of chips or snack on some jerky. This helps kill the hunger cravings: You feel like eating less, so you order less and end up spending far less money. Avoid expensive snacks, though – spend too much money on your pre-dining portion, and this tip can work in reverse.

Find the Right Time

Keep an eye on the restaurants you prefer to dine in, watching for the times throughout the week where prices change. Dining early can often save money through early-bird specials. Dining late can open up tasty happy hour specials, often to the benefit of your wallet. Certain days or times may greet you with delicious deals if you time it carefully.

Reign in the Ordering

When placing your orders, force yourself to go easy. Drinks are a major source of cost: One restaurant’s cocktails can cost as much as a meal, and after one drink it’s all too easy to order another, so stick to simple drinks and limit yourself to only one – or none. The same is very true of desserts. You may be tempted, but your budget and stomach will thank you if you take a pass.

This also applies to main courses. If the restaurant likes to heap on the food, order fewer plates and share with the kids or a date. A little friendly communism can go a long way when it comes to staying within your monthly budget.

What people in these states do not realize is the total impracticality of spending money on the lottery in order to make money. Even in the ludicrous odds of the lottery business, state lotteries have by far the worst odds found in legal gambling. Louisiana actually rewards, on average, only 51 cents for every dollar you would pay to join their lottery.

People love to compare winning the lottery with other odds, like getting struck by lightning or dying in an airplane crash (both are far more likely), but these examples are a little far out for the average lotto player. Gambling addictions aside, playing the lottery is an excellent way to lose money you could be investing instead, and when winnings do come they tend to be for paltry amounts, hundreds or thousands of dollars that barely repay the years worth of lottery tickets players buy.

Even the large winnings have high costs. About 70 percent of winners spend all their winnings within only a few years, often winding up in bankruptcy through horrible money management. Of course, this refers to the lottery money they actually receive. Many players “win” but fail to follow all the required qualification rules. Others forget that lottery winnings count as taxable income, so they will only receive a portion of the official winning amount.

This does not even touch on the personal issues that follow winning the lottery. If you bought the lottery ticket as part of a group, a verbal contract may apply. If you spread the word too quickly, people will soon gather for loans without reliable contracts. If you purchase a lottery ticket with marital funds the winnings may be considered marital property, shared between you and your spouse. The list goes on.

Even spent winnings have their own hidden costs. Land requires property taxes, cars need auto insurance, houses need utilities, and everything needs maintenance years into the future. In fact, one of the wisest moves you can make when winning the lottery is finding a financial advisor and treating the money as just another investment.

Plans were announced in late March 2012 for a drink called the Starbucks Refresher, a general brand name that allows for all sorts of future Refresher flavors and types. Well, almost all sorts – Starbucks has no plans to invite the alcohol market over for a Four Loko-themed party. Instead, the company is going after the strictly caffeine-based energy drink market, the one now dominated by drinks like Rockstar and Red Bull.

Curious about ingredients? Starbucks has three first-line flavors ready to go, a raspberry pomegranate drink, an orange melon version, and a strawberry lemonade experiment. Apparently fruit is the path to the future, at least for Starbucks, although these flavors are far from the only ingredients in the can. Starbucks will also be using green coffee extract to provide the punch, although the company pinky-swears that there will be no coffee taste in the drink itself. Making such a big deal out of the taste may be a clue that Starbucks is planning to market the drinks heavily toward the younger crowd, a demographic previously unreachable by the espresso giant due to, you know, the low numbers of coffee-drinking teenagers.

Starbucks has been holding these plans close to its chest for some time, preparing for a sudden leap into stores across the world. By the end of April, the company is planning on releasing the Refreshers to 160,000 different locations, a massive output only a few weeks outside of the first official advertisement.

If you are not a teenage and actually care about calories, the Refreshers are expected to have about 60 calories in their 12-ounce containers, which have a suspicious resemblance to Red Bull cans. It will be curious to see if Starbucks manages to pull Red Bull and similar companies off of the energy thrones they have occupied through the 2000s. Taste will be a major issue, since one of the complaints about current energy drinks is how they generally taste worse going in than coming out.

Of course, even if Starbucks faces an uphill climb in the U.S., it also has the ability to release the Refreshers in stores across the world where markets may be less developed and customers more willing to create new loyalties.

1. Lean into Your Strengths

It may be difficult to hear, but money will not simple pop out in front of you and ask to be invested wisely. You have to make it before you can save it. In fact, in order to really achieve personal wealth you need to find a long-term source of income that leaves you with at least a little bit of savings after you have managed to take care of yourself and your family.
One of the best ways to do this is by leaning into your strengths. Work toward what you are already good at. Explore your natural talents and find out where your passions are. This is the area where you have sufficient drive to expand, learn, and realize income. If you cannot find a job that plays to your strength, seriously consider making one – this is how most successful entrepreneurs get started anyway.

2. Create and Act on Goals

With a little leftover money, you are ready to start saving and investing. A budget with a clear monthly savings plan can help you set aside the dough, but you need a clear goal for investment. When do you want to retire? What kind of life do you want to lead? How much of a mortgage do you want to pay? These are the difficult financial choices you need to sit down and make. Once they are formed, you need to act on them. Do research on mutual funds. Call a stock advisor. Consult with the financially savvy people you know, and start moving money around. Learn from your mistakes, and make each investment wiser than the last – just refrain from doing nothing at all with your money.

3. Cut Costs

This is the hardest step for many people, but in order to maximize your wealth you need to learn to reign in your spending. Go through every single item you spend money on and adjust it with a harsh eye. Paying for necessities is fine, but learning to live on only a few well-timed luxuries is the key to building financial security. Cut unnecessary food, entertainment, and decorative costs wherever possible, then cut again. Keep going through your finances with this critical examination to root out any unnecessary expenditure. Keep your goals firmly in sight for inspiration.

Blunder #1: Skip work and post about it on Facebook

If you are going to skip work for non-emergency reasons, avoid Facebook at all costs. The last thing you want is evidence surfacing online that suggests you were not really at home in bed with a 103 degree fever.

Blunder #2: Criticize Your Job

If you got something to say, say it. Just don’t do so online. Speak to management directly about problems with your job in person. It takes courage to do this, but direct conversations will avoid the sense that you are using online media to rebel against the company culture.

Blunder #3: Use your social media profile to make racist, sexist, or other offensive comments

Sadly, this isn’t obvious to everyone. If you hate a particular group, go to tolerance classes. Don’t go online. You’ll only end up making enemies and creating evidence that can be used to fire you later on.

Blunder #4: Tweet About job applications

Got an offer to work at Google? Congratulations. Tell your friends, your parents, and anyone else who needs to know. Just don’t go posting the news on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites. These sites may seem secure, but they still act as social networks, connecting seemingly unrelated people. You never know if the Google recruiter may read your post and have second thoughts.

Blunder #5: Publicly Fight Anyone Online

When you’re online, you have to assume that everything you say can and will be held against you. Maybe even in a court of law. So save the venom when engaging with difficult or unsavory people. If you do encounter opposition, be the bigger man or woman and use a civil, respectful tone. This will save you from writing something you’ll later regret and you might even end up “winning” the disagreement.

Blunder #6: Complain about your job

If you don’t like your job, keep it to yourself and make plans to move on. Complaining online is not the answer. You have to assume that you boss, co-workers, or anyone else at the organization will find the postings. This may be your goal, but most likely you are not yet ready for to be ominously summoned into the office and have your boss shut the door.

Blunder #7: Be too relaxed when working with children

Children are expected to lack maturity. You, on the other hand, are an adult. As such, you must maintain a level of maturity and professionalism whenever dealing with kids. Avoid the urge to become friends with them on Facebook or do anything else that would break the child-adult barrier. Breaking the barrier will only lead to potential allegations of unprofessional conduct or the inability to perform your job fully.

Blunder #8: Complain about being bored at work

If you complain online about being bored, your employers may do you a favor and fire you. You can’t blame them, right?

Blunder #9: Create Social Media Posts About Illicit Activities

If you moonlight as a call girl or run a multinational cocaine ring after work, don’t share it. Keep any illicit activities to yourself. Posting – or at worst, bragging – about your activities online will only lead to you being fired and potentially prosecuted.

Blunder #10: Slam your company’s clients

Slamming company clients using social media is a one-way ticket to the unemployment agency. Your company works hard to get its clients and will not be happy to find that you are badmouthing these same clients online. This unhappiness will probably be expressed with a pink slip and your final paycheck.