Can’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 [...]

How to Get Affordable Dental Care Without Insurance is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Years 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 [...]

4 Types of Artificial Sweeteners & Sugar Substitutes – Side Effects, Pros & Cons is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

You 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 [...]

How Many Calories Should I Eat to Lose Weight? is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

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 [...]

5 Celebrity Fad Diets & Weight Loss Plans That Don’t Work Long-term is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

This 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, [...]

20 Simple Ways to Live a Healthy, Happy Life is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

You’re feeling sad, unmotivated, and just don’t have the energy to visit friends or family members. Sound familiar? These signs – and many more – are signs of depression, a serious mental condition that can turn your mood and motivation upside down. If you feel this way, you’re not alone: 15 million Americans suffer from [...]

How to Deal With Depression & Anxiety Naturally Without Medication is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

You’ve probably heard it before: A friend or family member loses weight by going on a crash diet, detoxing, or eating too few calories. Or perhaps you’ve tried to lose weight by severely restricting your diet, to the point of feeling miserable or weak. Unfortunately, due to the unhealthy eating habits they promote, these diets can [...]

5 Warning Signs of Unhealthy Crash Dieting & Eating Disorders is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

If you’ve ever dieted, you know how hard it is to stay committed, especially in the wake of constant hunger pangs. Despite eating right and keeping your calories under control, your stomach still growls constantly, which makes you crave food – and tempts you to overeat. So how do you combat these unwanted pangs of hunger? [...]

How to Curb Hunger & Suppress Your Appetite – Feel Full on a Diet is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Can eating nutritious foods remove toxins from your body and kick-start your metabolism? Should you do endless strength-training repetitions to lengthen your muscles? These are just examples of some of the diet, fitness, and weight loss myths that celebrities – and celebrity trainers – have recommended, despite the cries of protest from doctors and nutritionists [...]

4 Celebrity Dieting & Workout Tips to Avoid is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

In difficult economic times, many people look for ways to make extra money, and you may be considering some creative options to pay down debt. One way to make money is by using your body. No, I’m not talking about hard labor, but rather the ways that your good health and bodily functions can help [...]

5 Ways to Make Money With Paid Medical Research Studies & Donations is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Exercise programs and personal trainers have two things in common: They’re good for getting you in shape and for zapping your wallet. If you’re strapped for cash, gym memberships aren’t necessarily better either. Even nationwide chain gyms charge monthly fees that can quickly add up, especially if you’re working out with your partner or family. [...]

How to Create Your Own Free Home Workout Plan & Exercise Routine is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Imagine a diet supplement that can instantly shed pounds and fat, and give you your dream body: firm abs, slim waist, and more. And it’s natural! In concept, it sounds like a dream come true – until of course you actually use it and discover the supplement does nothing to shrink your waistline, perhaps even [...]

7 Herbal & Natural Supplements for Weight Loss That Don’t Work is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

So-called diet “experts” can often offer confusing and conflicting advice. Simple carbs are the cause of your expanding waistline one week; fruits and sugars are  the culprits the next. A low-fat diet is key to losing weight – or is it a low-carb diet? Dieting advice is mind-bogglingly complicated and ever-changing. It can lead you [...]

Top 5 Diet & Weight Loss Myths vs. the Real Facts is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

After a weekend of indulging in Thanksgiving dinner leftovers like pie, butter-soaked rolls, and stuffing, I decided I needed to step away from the food and refocus on healthy habits. Even though the average American only gains between one and two pounds between Halloween and New Year’s, those pounds are hard to lose. In fact, [...]

20 Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain – Beat the Statistics is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

We’ve all had it: an aching body, a sore throat, nausea, a fever, and chills. The dreaded flu season is upon us! Yuck. Getting the flu is awful. Not only do you feel terrible, but it can cost a lot of money too. You might have to miss work or school and go to the doctor. [...]

Should I Get a Flu Shot? – Effectiveness, Costs & Side Effects is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average American household spent $1,380 over the past year on consumer electronics (CE), such as HDTVs, cell phones, video game systems, computers, portable music devices, and Blu-ray players. This translates to a $165 billion per year industry that is apparently thriving in spite of a recession. Already this year, I have [...]

How Addiction to Electronics Affects the Environment & Our Lives is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

You have five minutes before you need to head out the door to make it to work on time, and you haven’t eaten anything for breakfast. Do you skip breakfast altogether, visit a drive-thru, or stop by the vending machine in your company’s break room? If you answered yes to any of these options, then [...]

12 Healthy Breakfast Food Ideas That Are Quick & Easy is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

The impending birth of a child is both exciting and yet fraught with anxiety. Some mothers fear the pain of childbirth or how an epidural may affect their child during the birthing process. However, mothers who practice hypnobirthing often find these fears unfounded. In fact, they are more likely to have a shorter labor and [...]

What Is Hypnobirthing – Mongan Method Birthing Techniques is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

A while ago, I joined a gym. I admit that I was swayed by all of the shiny equipment and the promise of a cheap introductory promotional rate. Being a gym member has its advantages. The gym I signed up for stayed open 24 hours and had tons of equipment and classes. However, the promotional [...]

13 Ways to Exercise & Work Out Without a Gym Membership is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

Summer tends to be the most expensive season of the year, rivaled only by the winter holidays. The costs for summer vacations, summer camps, pool fees, and child care quickly add up, and can lead to exorbitant debts. However, many people neglect one of the most important expenses of the summer – sun protection. While [...]

How to Protect Your Skin from Sun Damage – Summer Sun Safety is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.