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How to Get Affordable Dental Care Without Insurance

by Kalen Smith

dentist officeCan’t afford a trip to the dentist? You’re not alone. The cost of dental care has consistently risen by nearly twice the average rate of inflation over the past half-century. In addition to rising dental costs, the number of consumers with access to dental insurance decreased 5.7% from 2009 to 2010 alone, leaving only about 45% of Americans with dental insurance.

The price may be high, and you may be among the majority who lack insurance. However, there are a number cost-saving measures you can attempt to save money on quality dental care.

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What Is the Freecycle Network – Give & Get Free Stuff

by Rebecca VanderMeulen

freecycle logoWe all love saving money on items we buy – but getting stuff for free is even better. Thanks to the Freecycle Network, finding freebies is now easier than ever. Plus, using the site is a great way to get rid of clutter in your home, and it costs nothing.

The concept of Freecycle is quite simple: It’s a large network of people who give things they don’t need to people who want them. It started in Arizona in 2003, and has since expanded beyond the United States into more than 70 countries.

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10 Best U.S. Cities to Live In

by David Quilty

san franciscoAmericans are mobile people. In fact, the U.S. Census reports that about one in six Americans move each year. Though most moves are local, nearly one-sixth of all people who move change states.

Finding the home that is right for you largely comes down to personal preferences, and the cities in this country have such varying characteristics that it can be a daunting task to narrow your search down to just one. However, taking a broad view of the cities and investigating the characteristics that will affect your life on a daily basis can help you narrow it down.

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4 Types of Artificial Sweeteners & Sugar Substitutes – Side Effects, Pros & Cons

by Joanne Eglash

artificial sweetenersYears ago, there were three choices when it came to sweetening your tea or coffee: white sugar, brown sugar, or honey. Oh, how times have changed.

Today, with the great amount of attention given to calorie, sugar, and carbohydrate intake, many people do not even consider those options. Instead, numerous sugar substitutes are available, giving consumers the choice between the yellow packet (sucralose), blue packet (aspartame), or pink packet (saccharin). Many have a preference as to which best suits their taste buds and waistline. And now, in addition to those three choices, there’s a relatively new calorie-free sugar substitute available: stevia, served in a green packet.

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Join Us on Twitter for a Chat About Party Planning on February 3rd at 4PM EST

by Money Crashers

party friends couchThis Friday, we will be holding a TweetChat with the topic of  Party Planning in mind from 4-5pm EST.

Simply follow @MoneyCrashers and participate in the chat with hashtag #MCchat on Twitter and you will be entered in the prize draw.

P.S. In case you can’t make the chat, look out on Facebook as we will be running a giveaway there after the TweetChat. We hope to see you there!

P.P.S. Another big congrats to the winners of last weeks prizes: Frankie W. and @littof! Thanks for all your participation during the chat last week!

(photo credit: Shutterstock)

How Many Calories Should I Eat to Lose Weight?

by Ann Olson

calorie counting chart appleYou want to lose weight, so you’re planning to cut calories. But how many calories do you actually need to intake to effectively lose the pounds?

People often fall for common diet myths and make the mistake of eating too few calories for their bodies, which can lead to deprivation, metabolism slow-down, and, in some cases, unwanted binging.

To lose weight effectively, it’s important that you eat in a caloric deficit manner that is appropriate for your body type, activity level, and weight. To do this, you must determine your ideal caloric intake, using the same foolproof methods nutritionists use to assist their clients.

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How to Pay Off Your Student Loans With Low-Interest Credit Cards

by Joshua Caucutt

student loan can be overwhelmingIn November 2011, CNN reported that students who graduated from college in the past year did so with a record level of student loan debt – $25,250 per graduate.

What is most worrisome is that this number is an average – meaning that while some students’ debt stayed below this amount, many carry debt far in excess of $25,000 – some up to or even exceeding $100,000 in student loans. What’s worse is that many former students with significant student loan debt never even received their diploma.

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Financial Planning Guide for Musicians & Performing Artists

by Jason Van Steenwyk

musicianIn addition to having been a professional or semi-professional musician throughout my entire adult life, I’ve also served as a life insurance advisor and retirement planner for other musicians. Unfortunately, I have found that most musicians are not very savvy at financial planning.

The harsh reality is that being an artist does not exempt you from the economic realities of life. If you plan on growing old and being able to afford the basic necessities in your retirement, you, like everyone else, must make preparations.

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10 Reasons Why You Should Study Abroad in College – Benefits & Challenges

by Isabel Eva Bohrer

studying abroad can open new opportunitiesFor many students, going away to college is the first time that they will live away from their parents or hometown. University life affords freedom, independence, and an opportunity to gain life skills that will be used throughout life. However, while this is certainly a major event, getting the most out of your college experience may involve going beyond your university’s campus.

Off-campus volunteer and work opportunities may be the farthest you’ll want to venture from your college campus. But you may want to consider studying abroad.

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Best New Bank Account Promotions, Offers & Free Money

by David Bakke

stack cashWith the New Year upon us, banks are vying for your business. This is good news for you, because instead of just offering standard perks like no fees, free checking, or a free pen when you sign up for an account, some banks are raising the stakes with cold hard cash, giveaways, and great interest-bearing products.

February is a good month for bank promotions from both big and small banks. Banks are giving away a lot of free cash to attract new customers and get them to open up accounts. The banks listed below have some pretty sweet deals that you should take advantage of if you are in the market for a new bank.

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Volusion Review – All-in-One Ecommerce Web Hosting & Shopping Cart

by David Bakke

volusionFor online business owners, finding the right shopping cart software can be a difficult decision to make. Furthermore, trying to educate yourself on the wide variety of available online shopping carts can be an ineffective use of your time.

Volusion claims to offer the world’s #1 shopping cart software to accept payments from your customers and clients. It is easy to use, and comes with knowledgeable technical support to assist you along the way.

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Key Features

  • Templates. Volusion offers more than 120 free templates to choose from for your online store.

How to Make Money With Twitter Using Sponsored Tweets

by Alison Storm

sponsored tweets logoTo outsiders, Twitter can seem like a big waste of time; a bunch of egomaniacs telling the world what they ate for lunch or what they think of the latest contestant on “The Bachelor.” But to those who use it and love it, it’s an invaluable resource. I’ve used Twitter to find new jobs, locate sources for articles, and gather information on a variety of topics.

There are many ways to use Twitter for business and personal success. However, until recently, I couldn’t put a dollar amount on Twitter. Then I discovered Sponsored Tweets, an advertising platform that connects companies with tweeters.

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5 Celebrity Fad Diets & Weight Loss Plans That Don’t Work Long-term

by Ann Olson

It seems like celebrities are constantly on the craziest diets. One week, they’re gorging on baby food to get slim; the next week, they’re eating cookies or fasting to strip away the weight.

Clearly it works – celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Lady Gaga have maintained their petite physiques using these methods. Here’s the bigger question though: Is it safe? Better yet, should you try these diets? For safety’s sake, the answer is no.

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Top 5 Smartphone Shopping Apps to Help You Save Money

by Isabel Eva Bohrer

smartphone shopping coupleShopping with smartphones and tablet computers is becoming increasingly popular. Thanks to apps, you can use your mobile devices not only to shop, but to save quite a bit of money, too. Whether you want to save money on gas or reduce your travel expenses, there’s probably an app that enables you to do it. In fact, no matter where you are, you can consult your smartphone or tablet to reduce the price of just about anything, including items you shop for on a daily basis.

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20 Simple Ways to Live a Healthy, Happy Life

by Clara Edd

live a happy, healthy lifeThis year, you may have made a variety of New Year’s resolutions to improve your mind, your finances, or your health.

Many people, however, tend to lose focus of their goals, and the promises made on the first of the year are soon forgotten.

You don’t need to make a resolution to improve your life, as there are many  simple changes you can make at any time. To be happy and healthy does not require a lot of money or time – just a little desire and motivation

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