[ Note: This post is brought to you by our friends at BrazenCareerist.com.]

I BELIEVE you can have it all. There’s no reason to give up on your goal of becoming CEO of your own company just because you want to travel. The way to do it is to become location independent.

Location independence is a concept and lifestyle my husband and I stumbled upon after leaving the rat race ourselves a few years ago.

In our quest to find that one special corner of the world where we wanted to settle down, we created portable careers – businesses which can be run from anywhere in the world via an internet connection.

So far, having traveled to and living in places like Panama, Buenos Aires, Grenada, Toronto, South Africa, Dubai and Thailand, we’ve not yet found that place, but instead we’ve found and been presented with more professional and career opportunities than ever before. A few examples of how this has worked and the opportunities we’ve had so far:

• Working with a portfolio of international clients for our web/graphic design business (from Australia, Dubai, the US, the UK, Italy, South Africa and more)
• Working on a 6-month contract working for a consulting start-up in South Africa, leading a project to improve the distribution of HIV drugs
• Being able to build and connect with a community of like-minded peers online
• National UK, Chinese & Brazilian press exposure about our Location Independent project

As a fellow travel enthusiast, I know work and career may be the last thing on your mind; perhaps you see it purely as a means to an end – a way to generate the cash you need to fund your travels.

But if you are keen to pursue a successful career without having to curb your enthusiasm for travel, how can you do this too?

The answer is all about knowing how to actively manage your personal brand, your career and your professional network, no matter where you are in the world. With the advent of the social web, it’s never been easier … here are a few things you might want to consider:

If you’d like to pursue a location independent career, it may take you some time to get there. There is no better time than the present however, to start building a professional network that will better enable this kind of lifestyle. While LinkedIn is often seen as the “professional” social network, it’s more suited to simply displaying your network, not proactively building it.

Brazen Careerist is a new kind of network, based on a vibrant and active community – it’s a network which is specifically designed to help you actively build new connections through sharing ideas and helping members of your network find success.

- If you are going to take extended breaks from your career or drop off the grid for a while, then managing your personal brand becomes even more important. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn – all the usual suspects – make up part of your personal brand and can be one of the first places savvy employers look.

Photo: Giorgio Montersino

I certainly use these tools to check out people we’re thinking of working with or hiring. One of the stand-out features of Brazen Careerist, is that when potential employers view your profile, they’ll see that you’re more than just your resume.

Their ideas-based feed is an interactive log of your great ideas, inspirations and passions, all in one place. Organized and neat – just what employers are looking for.

Think very carefully about how you use social web tools while traveling. Those twitpics of you falling about drunk at a beach party in India may amuse your friends but might not look so good to a prospective employer checking you out online. Another option is to turn these tools to your advantage – join networks and communities like LinkedIn and Brazen Careerist which focus on your professional side – and which can be used to demonstrate the skills, experiences and the knowledge you’ve been picking up on the road.

- If you’re looking for a job which gives you the opportunity for extensive travel (travel journalist, global sales rep, international recruiter etc.) consider how your personal brand and travel experience can be used to give you the edge over another candidate. How will you demonstrate this? Where will you find these sorts of opportunities?

- Network, network, network. It’s the mantra of the social web! I am pretty sure that it’s the last thing you’ll be thinking about while gallivanting around the Galapagos but if you’re also trying to keep one eye on your career, it’s all too true. If you’re smart about it however, it doesn’t have to be as arduous or boring as it sounds and if you’re on Twitter or Facebook then the good news is that you’re already doing it!

Being able to conduct conversations, share ideas and stories and build relationships whenever you want, wherever you want puts you ahead of the game when it comes to looking for a new job.

Seek out tools that enable you to do this, no matter where you are in the world. Brazen Careerist is ideal for this – think of it like a 24-7 networking social. You can stop in and join the conversation when you have some free time, but it’s not going to hold back on-the-go travelers. In fact, you can sync Brazen Careerist up to your Twitter account and your blog. It almost (but not quite) does the networking for you.

Career management and travel do not have to be mutually exclusive – they can even be mutually beneficial if you leverage the right resources. To get started, why not join our Location Independent group on Brazen Careerist and grow your professional network amongst like-minded people.

Community Connection

For more info. go to brazencareerist.com, and please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Photo: Ben Brown

When I returned from a long travel break, my initial enthusiasm to get back to work faded around the time I landed myself a shiny new job. It was much more prestigious and better-paid than the one I had given up to go traveling, but once the novelty of it all – wearing a suit! Drinking vending machine coffee! Free email without a two-drink minimum! – wore off, I found myself unable to get motivated.

This is not an uncommon reaction. Many people can’t take reentry into a work routine and end up leaving the country again within a few months. But if this isn’t a desirable or viable option, don’t despair. Your travels have not rendered you terminally unable to hold down a job. Here a few steps to help get your head back into your work:

Swear yourself off travel for a year.

Don’t plan another sabbatical. Don’t even plan a two-week vacation. A long weekend here, a week’s trip within your home country there, is fine, but nothing more ambitious than that. It’s important to get focused, and stay focused, on where your home is.

Make a five year plan.

Don’t worry if this does not center wholly, or even mainly, around work. It’s fine if it involves more travel or another sabbatical. But it will show you where your current job fits in with your wider plans and, hopefully, make it seem worthwhile.

Ensure you have a life outside of work.

Photo: chatirygirl

If friends have moved on while you were away and your social world is no longer what it was, work can take on a disproportionate significance in your life. Get out there and meet like-minded people, just as you did when traveling, and you’ll soon end up feeling refreshed and looking at your job with new eyes – even if it’s just as a way to pay the bills.

Keep the souvenirs at home.

Resist the temptation to decorate your office with that Thai wooden fish mobile or use a shot of yourself scuba diving as your screen saver. It will not – and believe me I know, because I tried – motivate you, inspire you, or help you concentrate.

It will merely distract and depress you, and will serve as a talking point to every visitor to your desk – which will result in you spending every coffee break chatting about what you could be doing if you hadn’t come back home and got a job.

Who’s the new guy?

After you’ve settled into your new job, or settled back into your old one, take some time to assess what skills or qualities you now have, which you didn’t before your travels. Then work out how you can employ them in this post to ensure you do an even better job than you would have before. It will make you see travel less as something you do instead of, or as an escape from work, and will help you start to knit the two aspects of your life together.

Community Connection

For more on long term travel and how it can affect your career, check out How to Make Travel Look Good on a Resume.

For those interested in making a career out of travel, please visit MatadorU.

Photo: dno1967

For vehicles less than 25 years old, registered and insured for the full-year preceding the trade-in, and never get you laid, the CARS Allowance Rebate System program will hand qualified applicants a few grand on top of their vehicle’s current trade-in value to buy or lease a brand new ride.

This means consumers may receive up to a $4,500 discount for their trade-in vehicle when purchasing or leasing a new vehicle. Almost 30,000 different vehicle models qualify for the program so this might be just the right discount for you to take advantage of if you’re in the market for a new vehicle. Check the website for more details and the most up-to-date information.

Then again, as Julie Schwietert examined the other day: who does Cash For Clunkers really benefit?

Feature Photo: Threaded Thoughts

Photo: jburwen

With the crappy economy circumscribing our day-to-day lives, the concentration of job seekers rises higher and higher with each passing month. Many of us are on the rarely-rewarding, often-frustrating job hunt that ultimately leaves us feeling like we are participating in one giant, perpetual and perpetually-draining job interview.

And damn if we don’t want to get off this ride.

Matador feels your pain. We really do. And we want to help. So to start off our Tips for Your Every Day series, I am sharing what hopefully will help catapult job seekers out of the interview spectrum and straight into the rapture of being gainfully employed.

Tip: Say my name.

Our brain activity heightens when we hear our own names. We like it and we perk up. Saying your interviewer’s name occasionally throughout the interview will not only actively engage him or her in your responses, but also foster positive feelings between the two of you.

Tip: Tell a story.

Put yourself in the shiny, employed shoes of the interviewer. Chances are, you’re not the only person they’re interviewing (shocking, I know). A good story that not only entertains, but also showcases your talents will be way more memorable than those standard, fill-in-the-blank answers everybody else is giving.

Photo by slushpup

Tip: Stay within a 20 second – 2 minute time frame.

Interviewees have been statistically more successful in landing jobs when they kept their answers within this time frame during their interview. Practice with your friends, family, or household plants to make sure your answers are not only complete, but also at least 20 seconds in length. Do not exceed the two minute time limit.

Tip: Finish your response with, “I’d love to discuss this further.”

This is for those that are finding it difficult to contain all their sophistication and glory in a mere two minutes. If your interviewer is practically begging you for more, please, do indulge their curiosity, but again, respect the two minute mark. And don’t extend an interview answer more than once. Remember, you want to leave them wanting more, you saucy thing.

Feature Photo by Brymo

Community Connection:

Loving your job will go a long way in loving your life, find out how- One Week Job: New Web Show About Finding Your Passion
Love to travel? Make traveling your career- 10 Travel Jobs Within Your Reach
An excellent resource for finding travel jobs is the website Transitions Abroad.

Photo: jordanfischer

Family vacation is supposed to be fun. For parents, though, worries about money may eclipse the joy of seeing their kids experience new places.

It’s easy to go over budget on vacation. If you’re headed to DisneyWorld, you’ve probably already budgeted tickets for your family of four (two parents and two kids over age 10): $300.00 for one day admission. But did you figure in the refreshments, souvenirs, and photos your kids will beg you to buy while you’re in the Magic Kingdom?

Saving money takes some creative planning, but it doesn’t have to be complicated and it definitely doesn’t have to take away from the fun.

Here are 8 ideas for saving money on your family vacation:

Photo: dMap Travel Guide

1. Bring the fun with you.

If your family loves outdoor activities, gear rentals can tack on hundreds of extra dollars over the course of a seven day vacation.

Skip that expense altogether by bringing your own gear: bikes, snorkels, rollerblades, surfboards, and sand pails and shovels.

Plan your vacation around activities you already love; you won’t need gear or instruction. The adventure is experiencing it all in a new place.

2. Choose family friendly destinations.

They don’t get much better than Washington, D.C., where you could easily plan seven full days worth of activities that wouldn’t cost a dime. And the cool factor of the Smithsonian and surrounding museums has been amplified by their appearance in recent films, including “National Treasure.”

Photo: lepiaf.geo

Beyond the US capital, however, there are other cities that are often overlooked on family vacations. New Orleans is one. Generally seen as a stop for Spring Breakers, New Orleans has even more to offer families, including the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the Audobon Insectarium, which is just one year old.

3. Play in the city; sleep outside of the city.

Cities provide fantastic opportunities for families to have lots of different experiences in a single, compact place: new foods, museums, performances, and historic sites among them.

They’re also budget-killers when it comes time to lay your head down for the night. A recent Expedia search for hotels in New York City (2 adults/2 kids) for July 21-25 retrieved results averaging $195 per night, before taxes.

By comparison, hotels in Yonkers, just 30 minutes north of the city, were at least $30 cheaper on average. In Paramus, New Jersey, a search on Econo Lodge® and Rodeway Inn® hotels retrieved averages that could save you even more.

Sleeping outside of the city or in the suburbs can save a significant chunk of cash.

4. Don’t take your car to the city.

If you do choose to stay in the suburbs or outside of the city, consider leaving your car at the hotel and taking a bus or other public transportation option into the city.

Even with a family of four, public transportation is likely to be cheaper than the combined costs of tolls and parking fees. In large metropolitan cities, you can easily run up a parking tab that exceeds $100 for 8 hours, and that’s before you add the attendant’s tip.

5. Reserve in advance and always ask about family discounts.

Once you’ve selected your destination, do some advance planning.

Photo: hectorir

Do your kids really want to see a Broadway show? Find out when the cheapest seats are available (generally Tuesday and Thursday nights and Wednesday matinees).

No matter where you’re going or what you’re doing, always ask about family discounts. Many attractions offer such discounts but don’t advertise them.

It never hurts for you to ask.

6. Build your vacation around a family volunteer experience.

With the increasing popularity of voluntourism, there are more opportunities than ever for you to have a vacation that’s equal parts fun and meaningful. Try rescuing loggerhead turtles on Pritchard’s Island, South Carolina or building houses for families in need on the Gulf Coast. Whatever your interests are or whatever values you’d like to teach your kids, there’s a volunteer project to match them.

Often, voluntourism opportunities come with other cost-savings built in. Some include accommodations that are either free or deeply discounted. Some many even include food. Be sure to check the specific terms of the option you choose before you arrive.

7. Skip souvenirs.

Before you leave home, let your kids know you won’t be buying dust collectors they’ll forget about five minutes after the cashier has handed you a receipt.

Instead, give your kids a journal, a glue stick, and some colored pencils before the trip—maybe even a disposable camera—and encourage them to collect items along the way they can add to their trip journal. Menus and admissions tickets are just two items that are tangible memories of a fun family trip. Try to build in time and opportunities each day for them to add to their journal.

Photo: theritters

If you just can’t bring yourself to cut out souvenirs, look for items with special and lasting significance.

If you’re visiting any of the 400 National Parks sites in the United States, the Passport to Your National Parks is a perfect souvenir that kids can keep for years.

8. Start saving for next year now.

Help your kids learn about what goes into getting ready for a trip—including budgeting—by making the vacation planning process a family project.

Call a family meeting and decide where you want to go next year. Depending on your kids’ ages, have them research destinations, activities, and costs. And involve them in saving money for the trip. Set up a spare change jar, where family members can contribute their pocket change to next year’s vacation. As the jar fills up, let them count the change and keep track of the growing funds.

Community Connection:

Need some inspiration on where to take your family trip? Check out Photo Essay: Readers’ Favorite Family Vacation Destinations.

And all you kids out there will definitely want to read up on 10 Reasons to Travel with Your Parents as an Adult.

Wedding photos by Philip Chang

I could write about how not to spend money on a wedding — getting married at City Hall or eloping to some far flung place. But this is for those who want to have a more “traditional wedding” without having to take out a second mortgage on their home.

Below are some tips on where and how you can save some cash in planning your wedding, and still make it the beautiful and classy one you always wanted.

Free cherry blossoms

1. Keep the guest count down

Do you really need to invite your third cousin twice removed’s little niece? Stick to those who you keep in touch with on a regular basis. If you haven’t broke bread with someone in over a year, it’s probably not appropriate for them to partake in your day. We kept the guest numbers down by limiting the invitees to immediate family and the closest of friends.

Yes, you may rub some people the wrong way, but this is your day. You have your reasons, and they should be respected.

To take that further, we split the wedding in two parts: ceremony/dinner and par-tay. Half the guests came after dinner to celebrate with us, which also helped keep costs down.

2. Make your own invitations

Another nice thing about keeping the guest count down is you need fewer invitations. This means you should have time to make and send them out yourselves. If you’re crafty like my wife, you can make unique and special cards. We included a blank page in the invitation and requested that the guests make it their page in our guestbook and to bring it to the wedding.

With the time they had we received some really thoughtful and colourful pages to insert into our guestbook. Much more personal than just a couple sentences and a signature, or, worse, drunken words of advice.

3. Use your contacts

If you think about it, you probably know someone who has some handy skills you could take advantage of. Maybe even a friend of a friend. An old high school chum who I occasionally ran into agreed to do our flower arrangements (it just so happened she is a florist). In lieu of payment, we invited her to the wedding.

Friends and family were also more than willing to chip in as they could, some coming to the venue early to help set up decorations and chairs. And speaking of venues…

Barclay Manor in Vancouver’s West End

4. Find a cheap venue

While the big ballroom with floor-to-ceiling glass and a panoramic view over the ocean is ideal, it’s going to be expensive. Find a place that doesn’t normally do weddings.

We scored a beautiful heritage house and struck up a nice little relationship with the events coordinator. We negotiated a great deal and had extra access to the venue for planning purposes and also cleaning up post-wedding.

5. Be your own DJ

Sorry DJs of the world, but you aren’t needed here. We sent out an email to our guests and asked them for song requests. I then mixed everything together myself with MixMeister. It was easy to use and it was fun putting it together, plus it makes a great memento. We still have the original file and dance to it on our anniversary.

At the wedding, you can play this mix from your iPod or laptop. We rented a mixing board and big speakers for party level music. We also got a dancing colour light.

Professional DJ for $1000 or this set-up for $80? You decide.

6. Don’t go pro

It’s not always a case of “you get what you pay for”. We’ve all heard the horror stories of professionals providing less than adequate service. But it also works the other way round. You can get some seriously good service for a discounted price.

Photographer: We found one just starting out in the biz and so was offering a deep discount while he built up his profile. He came with an assistant (with his own camera too) and was with us for eight hours.

Plus, he was willing to give us all the images he (and his assistant) took throughout the day instead of just a set amount of prints.

The “homemade” wedding cake

Videographer: Also a newbie, but as this was his first wedding he offered to do it for free to get his portfolio going. The end result was fantastic and he was extremely professional, polite, and took great care of us.

Caterer: Try a culinary school to keep your catering costs down. If you’re in Vancouver, check out Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. My mouth is watering just thinking of the food they dished up that night.

We found a cheap and cheerful bartender off Craigslist, where we also found the photographer and videographer. Just make sure you meet with them at least a couple times to make sure you’re comfortable with them.

7. Make your own cake

This is not for the faint hearted, but you can save heaps here. Rather than a sugary, fluffy cake, use one you actually like. We used a tuxedo cake (from Save-On Foods) square base, with a round raspberry and white chocolate cake on top, offset in the corner for artistic purposes. And, of course, decorated it.

8. Find some good, cheap booze

Who says you have to spend over $20 a bottle for some good wine? We tested a bottle or two each week, which was fun in itself, and found a red (Chile) and a white (Germany) for around $10. Same goes for the sparkling stuff, no need for the Dom Perignon.

9. Finally, recoup the costs

I don’t care what people say, I think it’s perfectly fine to ask for cash gifts, especially when the guest knows where it’s going (i.e. travel funds). You can also mix it with a registry of sorts for things you actually need.

Other random things we did to keep the costs down:

We rented a white PT Cruiser — modern, classy AND cheap — and I asked a work colleague to be our chauffeur. We “pruned” the cherry blossom trees around town for some free and beautiful center pieces (do this under the cloak of night).

All unopened bottles of booze and mixers were returned to the liquor store and Safeway, respectively.

Also, Yvonne’s wedding dress was so last year. But it was also so not expensive. And it was so gorgeous.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If you’d rather plan a destination wedding than go the traditional route, Matador has the Ultimate Guide to Planning a Destination Wedding.

And we’ll never leave you at the altar– check out 16 Places to Stretch Your Honeymoon Dollar too.

For those of you who have already passed this stage and are on the next phase, you’d best read the Expectant Mom’s Guide to Travel.

How about you? Do you have any wedding money saving tips to share?

Pop them in the comments below!

Photo: ktylerconk

That conventional wisdom may be true if you’re thinking about traditional stocks, but now is the perfect time to start thinking about building other assets: like an art collection.

For the most part, art prices are at an all-time low. After a boom period that gained momentum in the late 1990s, the art market went bust last year. Auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s began to worry about their own assets as even artists who traditionally fetched high prices failed to seal deals with cautious buyers.

For high end collectors, the current art market may seem just as dismal as the financial markets. But for new entrants, it’s a really exciting time to start building an art collection.

Interested? Here’s how you get started.

1. Circumvent the conventional system.

During the art market boom, a whole industry sprang up around the appraisal and sale of art. This industry grew to include a new group of players: the art adviser, whose job was to charge as much as $200 USD per hour to acclimate clients to the world of high art.

While some new collectors with fat wallets found their services effective, the art adviser is totally unnecessary. There’s nothing you can’t learn about art by using your library card to check out books and read some history or doing some online research about contemporary artists, their training, their trajectory, and their typical price points. One indispensable resource to consult is artnet.

2. Forget about fads.

Jeff Koon’s “Balloon Puppy (Yellow)” Photo: TheGirlsNY

Just as you don’t need an art adviser to tell you how to choose a piece of art, you don’t need to know what’s hot right now. All you need is your own taste and a sense of what you can afford.

While Jeff Koons’ “Puppy” and “Balloon Dog” may be good investments, I personally could never live with them because I find them hideously ugly. Plus, there’s no way I could afford them. While I’m waiting for my investment to mature, I’d like to be able to live with the art I choose in the meantime.

3. Start small.

You’ve collected baseball cards since you were 10. Your archival folder of autographed celebrity photos has been 20 years in the making. Art is like any other collection: You learn what you like and want as you go along; you build the collection over time; and you trade or sell one piece for another you want or need more.

4. Diversify, diversify.

In some ways, collecting art is no different than building a stock portfolio: the key to both is diversifying your holdings and spreading out your risk. In art, though, what’s really fantastic is that you get to enjoy looking at all that diversity as you’re building your collection. Among your choices? Photography, drawings, paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, crafts, jewelry, textiles, posters, lithographs, and the list goes on.

4. Get outside the gallery.

Established collectors tend to stick to galleries, high-end art fairs, and direct transactions with artists or their representatives.

As a new collector, you have lots more options—and more interesting ones, too.

In the past couple years, several art dealers have established online outlets intended to make art more accessible to a wider audience. One of the most interesting online galleries is 20×200.

Each Tuesday and Wednesday, gallery owner Jen Bekman announces the sale of two new pieces of art: one photograph and one work on paper. The works are typically sold in a limited edition run of three sizes, with each size priced at a specific, consistent price point, some as low as $20 USD. The artists featured on 20×200 are diverse, as are the range and style of their work. This site offers an easy, reliable way for new collectors to get in the game.

Online galleries aren’t your only option, though. As a frequent traveler, you have a unique opportunity to build a collection that’s not only diverse in genre, but also in terms of price point and origin.

Most of my art collection has been built by collecting paintings and photographs in Cuba and textiles and ceramics in Mexico. Though it can be harder to establish a value for these pieces, establishing provenance is typically far easier. We’ll talk more about that in a minute.

A recent photo by Matador editor Paul Sullivan

Finally, don’t overlook the option of buying from friends and acquaintances. Thousands of artists around the world are just as talented as marquee-name art auction darlings (if not more so, in my opinion), but just haven’t had the exposure or luck as more established artists. Why not give them a boost?

If you really love someone’s work, inquire about it. Within the Matador community alone, we have hundreds of accomplished photographers whose portfolios are bulging with beautiful work. Two of my favorites are Matador Goods’ editor Lola Akinmade and Matador contributing editor Paul Sullivan.

5. Document everything.

If you’ve ever watched an episode of “Antiques Roadshow,” you know that the value of a piece is determined by a couple of critical factors: the condition of the work and its story. The story of a work–who made it, where it came from, how you got it–is called its “provenance,” and you’ll want to know the provenance of every piece in your collection if you hope to extract an eventual return on your investment.

Textile weaver in Oaxaca. Photo: Francisco Collazo

Before sealing a deal, ask about the work’s provenance and obtain as much tangible evidence as possible. Is the artist able to provide you with a certificate of authenticity? If you’re buying a hand-woven rug on a street corner in Oaxaca, Mexico or a tribal mask in Africa, is it possible for you to get the contact information of the person selling it? The more information you have about the piece and your purchase of it, the more value you’ll be able to claim in the future.

6. Curate your collection.

Again, like any other collection, you’ll want to take good care of your acquired art work. Just as you store your baseball cards in acid-free sleeves, you need to display or store your art work in a manner that’s appropriate to its composite materials. The Canadian Conservation Institute offers how-to guides for practically every type of art work, and is a useful resource to consult once you’ve brought your first pieces home.

Community Connection:

Art fairs are one place where you can learn more about the art world. Here are Matador’s 10 recommendations for the world’s best art fairs.

Interested in collecting textiles? Marie Cleland offers a guide with six tips here.

Still not convinced that collecting art is for you? William Moss Wilson offers a guide to traditional investing here.

Feature photo courtesy of the Open Source Initiative. Photo above by Think Mapp.

Computer users typically pay for expensive software when most of what they need can be obtained free of charge. This free software is known as Open Source.

According to the Open Source Initiative, Open Source software must meet specific criteria. First and foremost, it must allow for free redistribution; its source code must be made publicly available and it must allow derived works and modifications. There is actually a long list of criteria, but those mentioned are the basic guidelines.

This means that a community of users can come together to create a program in an open manner, making for a better computing experience for everyone. It’s actually a very large community which pumps out every kind of program, from productivity to music to video to games, and all of it for free.

Linux

Although this is still a Windows world, and Apple is making big strides with OS X, but there is another operating system available. That operating system is known as Linux. Historically, Linux has been used mostly by tech-savvy folks, however that doesn’t mean that regular users can’t enjoy it either.

Screenshot by apasp.

One of the biggest barriers to entry is the fact that there are well over 100 different flavors of Linux, leaving most people confused as to which one to use. For the average computer user Ubuntu is the way to go. Just about everything necessary for a typical computing experience is included.

For those looking to give Linux a try, there are two options available. The first would be creating a dual-booting system. If that is a bit too permanent, don’t worry; it’s possible to take Linux for a test drive without installing a single thing. It’s called a live CD, and it runs the operating system directly off the CD (or DVD). The Ubuntu live CD can be downloaded here.

Mozilla Firefox

While pretty much every web browser available is free, none of them are able to make browsing the web as enjoyable as Firefox. The browser is fully customizable with the use of add-ons, sticks to web standards as closely as possible, has a built-in spell checker (admittedly, this can be hit or miss), and many other features that deliver a smooth browsing experience. It’s available for Windows, Linux or Mac OS X.

Screenshot by dlisbona.

The best reason for using Firefox, though, is the amazing amount of security and privacy features. It has a feature called “Instant Web Site ID,” which makes it easier for users to spot suspicious websites, stops users from visiting sites with potential malware, helps with avoiding anti-phishing websites, and integrates with a user’s Anti-Virus software (Windows only feature). It also has a wonderful pop-up blocker built right in.

Top add-ons: ForecastFox, which gives users weather updates. FoxyTunes, which allows users to control just about any media player while browsing. FireFTP, which is by far the simplest way to upload files to a server.

OpenOffice.org

OpenOffice.org is a full productivity suite for those who might be getting tired of Microsoft Office. Included in the package are Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw, and Base (database creation and manipulation).

Screenshot by Adrian Short.

The best part is that OpenOffice.org can also handle different file types, including those used by Microsoft Office. So users don’t have to worry about not being able to swap and share important files with Microsoft Office users for school or work.

OpenOffice.org is available for Windows and Linux. Don’t worry Mac OS X users, NeoOffice is the version you’re going to want to get, which has been built specifically for OS X.

Community Connection

What open source software have you used, or do you use? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Feature photo by Andres Rueda. Photo above by TheTruthAbout…

A credit card can be your best friend when you need to buy a shiny new object that you really can’t afford, or your worst enemy when you’ve surpassed your credit limit and your bank is trying to rip you off as punishment.

Love them or hate them, credit cards have become a permanent fixture on the financial landscape of most developed countries. Yet we often take them for granted and rarely consider how we feel about them and why.

This article looks at countries from both the developed and developing world, and the differences in how credit cards are used and viewed. We discover why Americans love their flexible friends, why the Japanese are really not interested in paying with plastic, and why India has witnessed such a backlash against the spread of credit.

Japan

Despite Japan’s status as the world’s most technologically advanced nation, it remains a strongly cash-based society. Its use of credit cards lags way behind most developed countries and many developing nations too.

It’s common for smaller shops and restaurants not to accept credit cards and there are few 24-hour ATMs, even in large cities. On average, only four credit card transactions are undertaken per person per year!

Photo by the_toe_stubber.

Banks have tried every trick in the book to convert the Japanese to credit cards, but to no avail.

Significant barriers to such a conversion include the high costs charged to Japanese merchants that accept cards and high telecommunication costs, which impede responses to fraudulent transactions.

The traditional role of women in Japanese society has also been cited as a cause for the country’s low credit card penetration figures. Men and women think differently about crime, technology and other factors that influence a preference for cash or card.

Perhaps if women played the same role in Japanese society as they do in the USA or Australia, carrying a credit card would prove more popular than having a huge wad of cash in your pocket.

China

The use of credit cards in China is growing rapidly, in line with the country’s economy, income levels and middle-class population. In 2008, China had 104.73 million credit cards in circulation, a 92.9% increase on the previous year. 15 to 20 million more cards will be issued in 2009.

The Chinese were once famous for their frugality, with saving rates of around 40%, but not any more. Saving rates among today’s young, urban Chinese population – those driving the economy – are effectively zero. This demographic is finance-savvy and hungry for credit cards.

India

Credit card use has grown steadily over the past 5 years in an increasingly consumerist India. Economic reforms and growth have made foreign and domestic goods more affordable for the upper and middle-classes, while improvements to the country’s payment infrastructure (more ATMs and POS terminals) have made credit cards easier to use.

Nevertheless, only 4% of Indians own a credit card, one of the lowest rates in the world. It seems that traditional values of thrift and prudence have endured here.

Photo by Carol Mitchell.

In addition to this cultural bias, high interest rates (typically 24% per year), high fees, hidden charges and poor customer service have all acted to dissuade Indians from using credit cards.

Lenders maintain that high rates and fees are necessary in a country without a robust credit checking system, where account holders can disappear without a trace.

One reason for the high charges that banks don’t give so readily, however, is that a large proportion of prudent Indians pay their full credit balance monthly, thus depriving card issuers of interest earnings from revolving credit.

United Kingdom

The UK has had a long love affair with the credit card, ever since the Barclaycard was launched in 1966, becoming the first credit card available outside of the US. Today, cards are more popular in the UK than ever, with the average UK consumer owning 2.4 credit cards (to go with their 2.4 children!).

Credit card fraud has become an increasing concern for UK residents and has received a high level of media coverage in recent years. In 2004, the cost of credit card fraud was particularly high: estimated at 500 million. In response, the UK and Ireland implemented the EMV standard (known as Chip and PIN) for credit and debit card payments.

This means that all credit cards now come with a built-in microchip and a cardholder must supply a PIN number rather than a signature during a transaction.

United States of America

The USA is the credit card’s ancestral home. It was here that the first merchant credit scheme was used in the 1920s and where the concept of different merchants using the same card was founded by the managers of Diners Club, in 1950.

Photo by moacirpdsp.

The USA is the most credit-card-intensive country in the world, with an average of 5 cards per person. US consumers use credit cards to pay for one quarter of all their retail purchases.

The disjointed nature of the US banking system has helped promote credit cards there. Historically, Americans found it easier to use credit rather than direct banking facilities when travelling interstate. The use of credit cards has now become completely entrenched in the US’s ultra consumerist society.

Brazil

In the recent past, Brazil’s unstable economy has acted against the widespread introduction of credit cards. Corruption made it difficult to enforce contracts, so debtors didn’t pay and creditors didn’t lend. Banks found it very hard to check potential customers’ credit ratings because of the lack of skilled labour and the high cost of technology.

The potential credit card market was small anyway, due to low and unevenly distributed incomes. Brazilians had nothing against credit cards, but risks were high and so, in turn, were interest and default rates.

In 2009, Brazil is a very different country. It now has the eighth largest economy in the world, thanks to many years of protectionist economics and a highly skilled IT workforce. The nation’s top three credit card issuers (Banco Itau, Banco Bradesco and Banco de Brasil) are furnishing credit cards in ever-increasing numbers: in 2008, there were 261 million credit cards and a further 210 million debit cards in circulation in Brazil.

Canada

Despite Canada’s proximity to the USA, its attitudes to credit cards are very different. Here, debit cards (which Canadians often refer to as ‘Interac’ after the Interac Direct Payment system) are far more popular.

In fact, Canadians use debit cards in more transactions than credit cards or even cash, making them world leaders in debit card use, with an average of 71.7 debit card transactions made per person, per year.

Photo by nicolasnova.

The many Canadians that do opt for a credit card will find that charges are far less hidden than they are in most other countries. The Government of Canada maintains its own list of fees, features, interest rates and reward programmes associated with the vast majority of credit cards available. Its database is published quarterly on the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada website. There’s even an interactive tool that will find the best credit card for you.

Australia

There are 13 million credit cards and a further 28 million debit cards circulating among Australia’s 21 million strong population. The popularity of credit cards is considered to be a central cause of many Australians’ debt. In May 2008, credit card debt in the country reached a record high: the average balance on each individual credit card account was a staggering $3,299.

Identity theft, inextricably linked to credit card use, is common in Australia, a country with one of the highest incidences of cyber crime in the world. 1.1 million Australians have experienced identity theft and it costs the economy $1 billion each year.

Perhaps the stereotype of the laid back Australian is true: research shows that 70% have still not taken any steps to protect their identity.

Community Connection

How do you use / abuse credit cards? Please share your comments below.

Feature photo by nickherber. Photo above courtesy of Gary Vaynerchuk.

It started with gentle sobs during the car ride to and from work. Like many of us in 9 to 5’s, Gary Vaynerchuk dreaded going to work.

“I hated it,” Vaynerchuk said. “When I first started working in the [wine industry] I cried everyday. But one day it clicked for me; I saw people collecting wine the same way they collected baseball cards I was selling on the weekends. I decided to make myself into an expert and let my natural marketing ability take over.”

And take over it did. Soon after Vaynerchuk began uploading his now wildly popular video blogs on his personal site, Vaynerchuk’s internet presence skyrocketed into the web stratosphere, eventually landing him appearances on mainstream programs like The Conan O’Brian Show.

“In 2006 I saw what was happening in video with people like Ze Frank and Rocketboom and I got very excited with the potential for a social web,” Vaynerchuk said. “I knew [video blogging] would give me an opportunity to connect with consumers in a different way [so] I started sharing some of my business and social media ideas on my personal blog. People really liked it so I stuck with it.”

Now a web sensation and the first ever Social Media Sommelier, Vaynerchuk releases regular video blogs that cover topics from wine recommendations to business advice to tips on happiness.

Photo by Couche Tard

(MT): With the economy being what it is today, not everyone can afford, or even is willing to afford, that fancy-shmancy bottle of wine. What are the top three budget bottles you recommend for people to drown themselves in for 2009?

I prefer to recommend regions rather than specific bottles. Check out wines from Portugal, especially the Douro region. We’ve also seen great value out of Malbec and Torrontes from Argentina, and Sauvignon Blanc from Chile.

(MT): When we’re pressed for cash, sometimes it’s a choice between eating or drinking. If we hit up fast food joints, we can have both! What are your wine recommendations that best accommodate our favorite fast food?

With a Whopper, I’m thinking Red Zinfandel. On a budget you can produce that experience with a Primitivo from Italy, Primitivo being a relative of Zin. With that Wendy’s Chili, I have to go with Albarino from Spain. Zippy acidity to pair with that little bit of spice. Filet-o-Fish? How about a Macon? Crisper and easier to pair with food than a California Chardonnay, you can get a decent white Burgundy for under 12 or 15 bones.

(MT): Are there any wines you’d recommend with our favorite snack foods?

With Cheez-its I think Sancerre could be an interesting play. These Sauvignon Blanc wines from the Loire Valley in France have minerality and sometimes a little saline quality that I’d like with the salty crackers. With potato chips I’m thinking about Viognier. The floral elements of the wine might play very nicely with greasy potato chips. With Cheetos or Doritos I’d look for a Spanish red. Tempranillo based wines, especially a Ribera del Duero, with all that seductive up-front fruit to combat the bold flavors of the snack.

(MT): Do you currently have a favorite (or a few favorite) bottle(s) of wine? Do tell!

Not really, every wine is a different experience and I rarely bring home more than one bottle of anything. My favorite category and something I think is totally under appreciated in America is Champagne and sparkling wine.

(MT): And how doe you like to enjoy your wine?

With family and friends!

For all wine aficionados, fans, and newcomers, Vaynerchuk emphasizes trusting your own palate.

“The most important [thing is] to keep and open mind and try new things,” Vaynerchuk said. “There are so many traditional rules about pairing this with that, and so much of it is ridiculous. Wines will change with foods, and your experience of the food will change with different wines. Expand your palate by trying different things, and forget about the traditional rules!”

Remember, the point of wine is to enhance your gestation experience, so go with your own personal preferences and let your taste buds make your libation decisions!


COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Are you a beginning oenophile? Check out Craig Martin’s classic article, “How to Drink Wine Like a Pro” for tips about getting started in the world of wine.

Photo: inhisgrace

I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and in my youth there were one or two days a year for “Big Trash Pickup.” The entire town put bulky items that weren’t worth holding onto out on the curb; the wilier citizens were free to comb through the discarded belongings before the garbage men picked them up.

This is how my trash picking began.

It was a family affair and I was always terrified that I would be seen with my mom or dad prowling around the front of a classmate’s house in broad daylight. I would torture myself imagining scenarios in which I was spotted by a more popular fifth grader rifling through her family’s discards and the ensuing outing in which I was teased mercilessly for being a trash-picker.

Thankfully, this never happened.

Still, it was hard not to get excited over a wooden swing in the shape of an airplane or a bag of Barbie dolls that had seen better days. Furniture, toys, obsolete electronics, records, sports equipment– the price was right. We had a huge Chevy Suburban replete with unfinished bodywork that left the sides peppered with sanded down patches of red and grey Bondo– never was there a better truck for loading with trash.

Over the years I have found so many great things. I’ve sold some, eaten some, made art out of some, furnished with some and thrown some back where they came from.

Photo: drb62

In the current economic climate, perhaps you’re thinking of making a foray into the world of trash picking and dumpster diving. It can be a rewarding activity, but it has its pitfalls. Caution is in order and it’s not for the squeamish. You want to be safe and you want not to get caught.

In certain places you could be seen as trespassing or even stealing. Chances are you won’t go to jail, but it’s an activity best done under cover of night and it might be advisable not to blast Judas Priest from the stereo speakers in your old beater to rock out while you dive.

Low key is key.

What Will You Need?

You don’t really need anything. The following items are recommended. The more stars they have, the more recommended they are.

• ***No Arrest Warrants
• ***Good Boots with a Non-Skid Sole
• ***Trash Bag
• ***Flashlight
• **Gardening Gloves (rubber fingertips grip and protect)
• **A Vehicle
• *A Co-Diver
• *Dark Clothes

How Do You Get Started?

Do drive bys or walk bys. Run reconnaissance and see where dumpsters are unlocked. You can do this during the day. Groceries throw out food and produce that are still good. Stores change stock and dump out of date merchandise. Dare to dream and have a look behind stores you wish you could shop at more.

Photo: star5112

Don’t exclude thrift stores. Sometimes really cool stuff can be found– I once found a Coach handbag in the dumpster behind a thrift store (not that that’s cool, but it fetches a nice price on e-Bay).

Dive when the store is closed and it’s dark out. Park your car away from the dumpster and approach on foot. Be practical. Wear dark clothes and be quiet. It’s a good idea to wear gloves and jeans and heavy shoes or boots. You want to keep in mind that you could stick your hand in anything (putrid, hazardous) or step on something sharp (glass, nails, needles). Use a flashlight as needed and don’t go shining it up out of the dumpster like your own personal laser light show.

If the dumpster looks promising, go ahead and get in. Piles of trash tend to have all sorts of weird angles and slippery things that are buried. If you aren’t careful, it’s very easy to fall down. Grab the side until you’ve gotten your sea legs. Arm yourself with a trash bag and collect your finds.

When you’re done, peep out of the rim of the dumpster: if everything looks okay, pass the goods to your friend or get yourself out and pull the haul out after yourself. Nonchalantly return to your vehicle or walk away with your scores.

If you get to be a pro, you might start to learn that your favorite grocery turns over its produce on Wednesdays and the knick-knack shop you adore rotates its inventory on the third Saturday of every month. If you pull a great score one day, make a note of the day of the week and the month and see if you have time to follow up on your intuition that similar goods will be on offer the same time next week or month.

If you find that you can’t possibly use the 20 heads of arugula you found but don’t want to leave them rotting there, consider taking them to a soup kitchen. Everyone’s being hit by this downturn. Good luck.

Community Connection:

Feeling the pinch of the economic crisis but not feeling like trying dumpster diving? Read about ways the financial crisis can improve your life here. Or if you’re traveling and need to make some quick money, here are 25 ideas to get you started.

Argentina: Centro, Buenos Aires

USD Price: $149,000

Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Notes / Link: This place is fully remodeled and right in El Centro, 2 blocks from Teatro Colon.

Chile: Villarrica, Region 9

USD Price: $110,000

Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

Notes / Link: This house is in the town of Villarrica, and has world-class backcountry terrain all around.

Russia: Chystye Prudy Area, Moscow

USD Price: $152,000 (approx.)

Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

Notes / Link: Right in the center of Moscow.

South Africa: Jeffrey’s Bay, Eastern Cape

USD Price: $152,200 (approx.)

Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 3

Notes / Link: This pad has a barbecue, garden, and you’re close to one of the sickest surf spots in the world.

Australia: Deniliquin, New South Wales

USD Price: $144,400 (approx.)

Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 3

Notes / Links A full on 27-acre farm near thetown of Deniliquin. Extremely affordable Australian home loans are also available.

Portugal: Evora, Alentejo

USD Price: $150,500 (approx.)

Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Notes / Link: in sweet village of Viana do Alentejo.

Indonesia: Lovina, Bali

USD Price: $107,000 (approx.)

Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2

Notes / Link: A straight-up private villa on Bali with mature palms / banana trees and some kind of ’split level swimming pool’. Ridiculous.

Croatia: Porec, Istria

USD Price: $150,700 (approx.)

Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2

Notes / Link: A 3-bedroom apartment with beach only 3 minutes away, along with the yacht marine of Cervar village.

Czech Republic: Prosek, Prague

USD Price: $144,000 (approx.)

Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Notes / Link: A newly renovated apartment with 74 m2 of living space and a 6-minute commute via subway to the city center.

New Zealand: Foxton

USD Price: $125,500 (approx.)

Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2

Funky designed4 bedroom home.

Feature photo by emdot. Photo above by m. s. coleman.

The economy sucks. Fancy political talk aside, that’s the plain truth. And while we’re tight on cash we’re willing to bet that, unless you’re in the world’s oldest profession (which is apparently booming at the moment), you’re hurting as well.

You can’t call in broke to your creditors, and your landlord probably won’t take an IOU, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a side job that will
a) help you make ends meet, b) not leave you wanting to curl up in the fetal position and cry every night, c) involve a pyramid scheme, pay-to-play survey sites, or foot fetishists.

Here are our picks for five lucrative gigs that are perfect for the intrepid traveler:

1. Think like a tourist.

Remember Sven, the foreign exchange student who stayed with your family when you were 12 and took home his weight in Levis? He was onto something.

On your trips, scout out the local hot (and preferably transportable) commodities—amber in Eastern Europe, fashion in Paris, local art anywhere. Buy in bulk and sell at a high markup when you get back.

If you have real DIY prowess, buy little trinkets (think matchbooks, loose stones, figurines, stamps) and turn them into handiwork worthy of your local craft fair.

2. Think for a tourist.

Just because you know every corner of the Mission or Alexanderplatz doesn’t mean that everyone else does. Google the walking/bus tours offered in your city (“Walking Tours New York City” yields over a million hits, “Walking Tours Sydney” will give you almost 400,000) and start e-mailing and calling to suss out their hiring processes.

Having a unique angle gives you a much better advantage over knowing the subway lines like the back of your hand. For extra credit, learn everything you can about your city and see if there is a neglected tour that may fit into a pre-existing company’s schedule. Is Budapest due for a foodie revival? Can you lead the way to the best goulash?

Photo by wickenden.

3. Crash weddings with your Canon.

True story: One rainy day in Prague I came across a wedding party. Struck by the modern bride and groom against the old-school architecture, I snapped a few pictures. Apparently, the bride caught sight of my SLR and, after some awkward translation, I was replacing a photog who’d jilted the couple.

Not only did I get to gorge on dumplings at the reception, I walked off with a few thousand Korunas (which wound up covering my hostel and eating expenses for the time I was in the Czech Republic).

You need to have true talent and equipment to do weddings, but if you’ve got it, flaunt it. With everyone in the economic doldrums, brides are looking for something affordable and reliable to go with their olds, news, borroweds, and blues.

Websites like Craigslist and PhotographyPros.com are great places to search for contacts and set up a portfolio. And if you’re looking to subsidize your travel while on the road, nothing will get you into a culture more than seeing how the locals get hitched.

Allergic to white tulle and cake toppers? You can also print your better travel shots to high quality paper and sell on Etsy.com.

4. Rent out the home front.

In this economy, tourists are looking to cut costs while still getting out of the house, and many are turning to guesthouses and apartments to save on hotels, eating out, and that compulsion to spend every waking minute out of the house (there’s only so much time you can spend watching BBC News in a hotel room or common area).

Craigslist is a superstar in this arena with its Vacation Rental section. Post to your city’s page, set your own price (depending on location, size, and functionality, anywhere between $50 and $200 a night), and make sure to screen any potential guests thoroughly. If you’re wary of Craigslist and spend more time on the road than not, check out vacation rental websites like VRBO.com or HolidayLettings.co.uk.

Just make sure your landlord is cool with your sublet or swap, or find a way to do it without their catching on.

Photo by TheeErin.

5. Find B 11 and 13 in a flash.

While liking the performing arts isn’t a prerequisite, it’s certainly a plus if you become an usher. In major cities like New York and Toronto, you can work through IATSE (the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) as an usher for theaters across the city.

You can even work up to 30 shows before joining the union and paying the obligatory dues if you’re looking to make some short-term cash.

However, the quarterly fees and one-time initiation pale in comparison to the couple hundred bucks you could make each week and the free entertainment that comes with the job. If you’re able to politely remind audience members that cell phones are verboten and that the restrooms are to the left 300 times in a three-hour period, you’re in the right place.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Looking for more ways to earn money on the road? Check out our Best Seasonal Jobs for Traveling, parts One and Two.

Photo by Thinkpanama Feature photo by Thomas Hawk

Here are 10 suggestions to get you started.

1. Establish investment goals.

Understand exactly what it is you are investing for. A college fund might look very different from a retirement account. The longer in advance you can start planning for your future needs, the better chance you have to realize these goals.

2. Make a budget.

Before you choose an investment strategy, you need to determine how much money you will have available each month to put away. If the amount available for investment after expenses is less than desired, look for items you might consider doing without. Smokers, for example, could save a couple thousand dollars a year by cutting a pack a day.

Photo by Thinkpanama

3. Eliminate debts.

Unfortunately, the ending of Fight Club was just a pre 9-11 fantasy. If you owe the man, the best investment you can make is eliminating your debt to him. Tackle the debts with the greatest interest rates first. As credit card debt can cost 20% or more a year, it would be pointless to invest money before paying off a certain loss.

4. Understand the risks.

Any investment with a higher return than a savings account (which is guaranteed up to a certain value in most countries) has an accompanying amount of risk. A general rule of thumb for determining the stability of an investment is the higher the promised returns, the higher the risk is that you could lose your initial investment.

A corporate bond that pays you a 15% annual return is doing so because the company that backs the bond has been deemed more likely to go bankrupt than a company whose bonds pay a 10% return.

Photo by Steve Wampler

5. Diversify.

Temper the risks you are making as an investor by spreading out your money over a variety of investments. Any given stock, bond, real estate purchase or financial instrument could swing dramatically in value.

One excellent way to buy a broad representation of the market is to invest in a mutual fund. The Vanguard Total Stock Market Fund, for example, is a passive index that mirrors the average return of thousands of American stocks.

Vanguard also happens to be an investment company with a reputation for charging the lowest management fees in the mutual fund business. The logic behind a Vanguard TSM investment is that average performance with less than average fees yields a better than average return.

6. A penny saved…

Don´t worry about the staggering number of choices available for your money. The simple act of setting money aside is an investment as it is money for future use. In the short term, markets are volatile.

If you started stuffing bills in the mattress six months ago you would have gotten a pretty return vis a vis any mutual fund you could have purchased. This does not mean that there aren’t better opportunities for your money. Take time in studying your options and invest in increments.

Even hiding money in the mattress has risks–your house could burn down.

7. In the long run…

A new investor is right to be wary of investing at a time when some economists are predicting a second Great Depression. Over the long run, however, most investments will outperform your mattress.

Even the unlucky soul who put all his money into the stock market in 1929 would have seen a return on that investment if he had waited 25 years. Assuming that capitalism survives the current crisis, the longer your time frame, the better chance you should have of seeing your money appreciate in value.

Photo by rednuht

8. Don´t try to beat the market.

Bottom line, capitalism is a system that seeks the accrual of riches. Overwhelming brainpower and resources in our society are devoted to competition for the highest possible financial returns. Keep in mind markets are a zero sum game–for every buyer there must be a seller.

A smart and well educated individual is no match for the massive computer systems, avaricious investment houses, and opaque hedge funds that make up Wall Street. Rather than actively competing with every last Gordon Gecko or trusting in the likes of a Bernard Madoff, passive investments like index funds are a safer alternative.

An index fund will piggyback off these machinations and yield the average return of the broader market.

9. You are what you invest.

Remember how your money is working for you and what it represents. Those wary of backing Philip Morris or the Carlyle Group may consider a firm that offers a path to ethical investments. You might sleep better knowing your money is invested in companies seeking solutions to tomorrow’s problems, not creating them.

10. Invest, then spend.

Don’t forget that despite the hours and years you devote to building your investment portfolio, it is only a means to future consumption. If you don´t spend the fruits of your labors, someone else will.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If you’re not ready to start investing, there are still ways you can cope with the current economic downturn. Check out our tips for exercising without a gym membership or read about ways you can cut costs here.

If you’re in dire straits–and I’m not talking about no longer being able to pay your $100+ cable bill, but just scraping by, living paycheck to paycheck–here’s a quick guide to keep your fur-buddy from becoming a burden.

Despite what the pet industry–and it is an industry–tries to peddle, animals do not need that much to be healthy and happy, but they do need consistency and care. Also, keep in mind that cheaper does not mean easier.

Medical

Photo by Paulo Ordoveza

Medical bills can be the biggest expenditure to break a struggling pet companion’s budget, but serious health problems can be avoided or at least mitigated with regular health maintenance.

Don’t skip vaccinations and check-ups. Not only do shots prevent costly diseases such as leukemia, but regular vet visits can catch other maladies in initial, cheaper-to-treat phases.

Some vaccinations are less necessary than others, though. (For instance, if you live in a geographical area with low risk for Lyme disease, then that shot isn’t a pressing concern for your dog.) Talk with your vet about individualizing a preventive care program for your pet.

Here’s a list of vaccinations and their recommended administration schedules.

Food

Don’t think that buying a 20 pound bag of generic commercial pet food is cutting down on anything but your companion’s life-expectancy. Loaded with fillers and light on substance, these foods essentially starve your pet of nutrition.

How long would you expect to stay healthy if you ate fast food for every meal? Ensuring a balanced diet with proper exercise will keep complications associated with obesity, heart disease, and dental disease at bay.

If premium pet food is too expensive, consider making your own pet food. Some animals’ dietary needs lend themselves to homemade meals (like dogs, who actually don’t mind a bit of fruit in their diet), and oftentimes can be cheaper and more nutrient-rich than processed foods.

Experiment with recipes and ingredients to see what works with your budget, but make sure to consult your vet before switching to homemade.

Signing up for special savings programs on manufacturers’ or retailers’ websites, and scanning for coupons also saves more money than you’d think.

Grooming

Photo by Mark

With the exception of certain breeds, most cats and dogs can be groomed easily at home with a consistent routine—and even the more high-maintenance breeds can be home-groomed with a bit of practice.

Daily to weekly brushings, depending on coat lengths and types, help to spread essential oils, remove detritus, and maintain overall coat health. And if you gently ease your pet into having its paws touched, rewarding it with positive reinforcement, nail trimming doesn’t have to be an epic battle, either.

Constant handling of your pet also allows you to feel for any unusual lumps or bumps that can indicate the early onset of medical problems (in addition to, of course, deepening the bond with your ani-pal).

Here are some general tips for dog and cat grooming.

Free or Discount Services

You’ve tried everything to reduce expenditures, but it’s still down to a choice between your pet and your dinner plate.

Check this site and review this list for comprehensive resources regarding financial aid, discount veterinary services, pet food banks, and other charitable assistance for special needs candidates, including the elderly, the ill, the disabled, and the just plain broke.

Even with all these tips and resources, you might find that you’re no longer able to afford or house your pet. If you have to make that difficult decision to relinquish your animal companion, make sure to surrender them to a no-kill shelter. With most shelters, municipal and not, at full-capacity, there’s not much guarantee that your pet will find the home he or she deserves.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

How are you affected by the recession? Do you have any tips for managing pet-related expenses on a shoestring budget? Share your thoughts below!

1. Discover Your Crafty Side

Children aren’t the only ones who can get away with making gifts for friends and family. Invest in a candle making set and create each gift with the recipient in mind.

Create a family scrapbook and photocopy the pages to mass produce your own individualized gift. These options may require a significant chunk of time, but they produce higher quality presents for a fraction of the price.

Photo by lolololori

2. Shop online.

If you already have a specific present in mind for someone, take the time to research prices online to find the best deal possible. Froogle.com is perfect for searching for specific items and allows you to sort them from the cheapest to most expensive. Ebay.com also provides you with the chance to get some great deals if you have the patience for bidding.

3. Create a budget.

We all know that glittering lights and cheery Christmas tunes have a hypnotic effect on shoppers that instills in them a fiendish desire to spend exorbitant amounts of money. Before stepping into the mall, make a budget detailing how much you wish to spend on each individual.

Take that amount of money out of your bank account and ban credit cards to stay within your limits.

Photo by bandita

4. Wrap it up.

Never buy gift wrap from drug stores or card shops. While $4 per roll of wrapping paper may seem cheap at the time, purchasing several rolls can really add up, along with overpriced bows, ribbons, and tags to match. Instead, find your local Dollar Tree or 99 cent store.

5. Break the paper card tradition.

Christmas and other holiday cards tend to be more of a formality than anything. Consider e-cards: they’re free, animated, and don’t require any forest resources to produce. If you feel obliged to continue the snail mail tradition, make your own cards by hand instead of purchasing expensive ones from the store.

6. Knock their stockings off.

Stockings are a great way to save while shopping for the children in your family. Find (or make) stockings for each child. You can then fill them with various small items. Think about what can be fun to play many times, rather than just once, such as a magnifying glass, or a small book.

7. Rideshare your way home.

If you’re planning on making your way to your parents’, siblings’, or friends’ place for the holidays, check out Craigslist.org to see if you can get in on a rideshare. While flying is fast and convenient, it has never been so expensive.

8. Cash in on rewards.

Many credit cards automatically enroll you into a rewards program that tends to be forgotten about for most of the year. The holidays are the time to cash in by spending points on gift certificates for friends and family.

Photo by Theorris

9. Give something up.

You know you’ll be spending more than usual, so figure out at least one minor sacrifice you can make as the holidays approach. That extra bottle of wine? The daily coffee at the cafe rather than at home?

10. Embrace selflessness.

Resist buying yourself anything until after the holidays. While it’s tempting, it’s in your best interest to hold off on spoiling yourself. You never know if a friend will give you a gift certificate to a store that sells the item you want or if it will go on sale as soon as the New Year rolls around.

11. Look forward to next year.

Shiny Christmas decorations can be tempting, so if you really feel the need for them remember that Christmas will come again next year. You should never buy Christmas supplies or decorations at their original price since stores practically give them away the day after Christmas.

Feature photo by TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³. Photo above by gordasm.

There are plenty of good reasons to examine offshore banking options – particularly if you’re a world traveler. If you’re going to be trundling around the world, you’ll want to utilize the bank that gives you the best rates, features and online convenience.

There are other considerations as well, particularly in light of the current economic crisis. People who lack confidence in the US dollar may want to put their money in a foreign bank and in another currency, to protect their wealth while still maintaining liquidity. Business owners may look to foreign bankers to give them anonymity along with tax and legal benefits.

The features of many foreign banks are not necessarily as up-to-date as those of a domestic one. Be sure that the bank has full online features, English-speaking customer service representatives, and allows for mail drops if anonymity is important to you.

On the other hand, the recent events in Iceland show the potential risk that comes with patronizing offshore banks. Many Europeans were lured into depositing their money in Icelandic banks over the past several years, but now find that their assets have been frozen following bank nationalizations.

Pay attention to the fundamental economic conditions in your banking country to avoid having your funds frozen at an inopportune moment.

Photo by Waltie.

1. Panama

Bankers in this country have decades of experience working directly with American clients. The legal system is highly compatible with the American one, thanks to its long history of involvement with international business interests. The country itself is quite stable, as the Panama Canal makes the continued reign of the government a matter of high importance for all major nations relying on the shipping passage remaining open.

2. The Cayman Islands

This sunny island chain south of Cuba is famed both as a beach destination and as a tax haven for wealthy individuals and corporations. However, the Caymans have had a recent record of cooperating with the IRS, so they are not necessarily as ironclad a choice as they were in the past. Despite this, there are many banks still there that are experienced with American clients, offering full service around the world.

3. Luxembourg

Luxembourg offers many of the advantages of Swiss banking with fewer taxes for non-residents. As one of the richest per capita nations in Europe, it’s also a beautiful cultural center. Convenient internet banking makes it a lovely choice, and it has yet to be intruded upon either by European bureaucrats or its own government.

Photo by kafeole.

4. Switzerland

The Swiss are renowned as the secret bankers of the world elite, but that reputation has dwindled somewhat under pressure from EU countries – particularly Germany – to go after people trying to avoid taxes. Americans, so far, have been largely left alone in terms of their Swiss bank accounts, but the precedent is troubling.

Despite this, Switzerland is one of the most politically stable and professional countries to do business of anywhere in the world. Many Swiss banks also ask for high minimum deposits, making it tough for those outside of the jet-set crowd.

5. Andorra

All accounts opened in this small nation nestled in the Pyrénée mountain range are denominated in a basket of currencies, making it a good choice for world travelers. Anonymous accounts are available, and the political situation is quite stable. The banking sector has been growing, and the country remains outside of the EU’s jurisdiction — although, of course, not immune to pressure.

Photo by bradipo.

6. Mexico

Simply for convenience’s sake, Mexico is a better foreign banking destination than you might think. The large number of Mexican nationals living within the United States have encouraged Mexican banks to get up-to-date with online banking standards.

7. Malta

One of the easiest European countries to get residency in, Malta also has a burgeoning banking sector with excellent international service.

8. Barbados

Want to combine a Caribbean vacation and an up-and-coming foreign banking center? Barbados might be for you, and it’s a Commonwealth country.

Photo by alfonso benayas.

9. Belize

A small country south of Mexico, Belize has less than two decades of experience providing foreign banking services. However, what services they do offer are world-class.

10. Denmark

While Denmark doesn’t technically offer anonymous bank accounts, with some expert help you can set up something resembling that quite quickly. For foreigners, it can be an excellent choice, particularly if you go to Northern Europe often for business or pleasure.

1. Turn Off the TV

Cancel your cable and Netflix memberships. Consider offering up your TV on Craigslist. Save some cash and use your extra time to finally read the complete works of John McPhee or organize a potluck to reconnect with old friends.

2. Head Overseas

If you’ve been itching to see the world, now is the time to cash in on your car or bid adieu to your pricey apartment. Earn your keep as an English teacher, or live off the government’s dime as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Live green, ride a bike. Photo by TimothyJ

3. Live green.

You’ve been meaning to go green since watching An Inconvenient Truth, but it just wasn’t, well, convenient before.

Stretch your salary and help the planet by riding your bike, setting up a carpool or working from home. Buy less bottled water and reuse the bottles you already have.

4. Learn to cook.

Instead of paying for take-out, take a cooking class. Perfect your
grandmother’s hearty signature dish for comfort when times get tough, but also learn to whip up a few new, healthier options.

5. Balance your budget.

Every month you tell yourself you’re going to track your expenditures, and now is the perfect time to actually start. Evaluate where you’re overspending and change your habits.

Put the money you save toward retirement or open a high-yield savings account reserved for emergencies.

Photo by lotusutol

6. Get a degree at a University abroad.

If you’re planning to go back to school, apply for a graduate program at a foreign university. Not only will getting your degree abroad offer you a chance to make global career contacts, the tuition is cheaper or — like the public universities in Argentina — free.

7. Volunteer.

When you start to worry about your financial outlook, volunteer. By spending time with an adopted “sibling” or helping build a home, you will not only reassess your own situation but also help someone in need.

Volunteer, head overseas, or both. Photo by Mira (on the wall)

8. Turn your passion into a paycheck.

Tutor a kid in Spanish, work part time as a bartender, sell you stuff on Esty.com, write for Matador!

How are YOU planning to weather the financial crisis? Share your tips in the comments below!

Feature photo by Net_efekt. Above photo by Nick Wheeler.

1. Power Down

Photo by Mike Bitzenhofer.

While Big Government and Big Energy scramble to find viable sources of alternate energy, you can help the environment by doing away with hidden or needless electricity guzzlers.

- Cut down on central heating. As the largest household use of energy, you can save nearly $1100 per year by investing in space heaters or time-honored sweaters.

- Consider using line drying or a rack over an electric dryer. Not only will you get that fresh air scent from actual air and not the bottle, you’ll cut down $133 a year. Washing with cold water saves another $145.

- Use power strips for every outlet and diligently turn them off when not in use. Electronic devices suck up a lot of energy, even when supposedly in off mode. Do you really need the time displayed on your microwave, DVD player, CD player, and alarm clock?

- Your dad, while hopelessly uncool and out of touch, had a point. Turn off the light when you’re not in the room. Speaking of which, switch to compact florescent light bulbs and save an additional $90.

2. Say No Thanks to Big Business

Photo by Grant Neufeld.

Cast off the corporate shackles and join the DIY/ sustainability revolution. Big Business only stays that way by hustling products at the highest possible retail value for the lowest manufacturing costs–usually to the detriment to third world laborers, the environment, and the consumer. Luckily for us, we don’t need half of the junk they sell, and what we do need, we can either buy locally or used, or make ourselves.

- When you can, buy indie and local. You won’t be paying for middleman fees or the cost of shipping and the quality tends to be less shoddy.

- Instead of buying, consider making. Crafting not only allows you take some ownership of your life, you’ll regain that sense of community sadly lacking nowadays. Join a knitting/sewing circle, baking group, mandolin making class, or whatever tickles your fancy. A burgeoning industrial and applied arts culture awaits you.

- Instructables, Readymade, Makezine, and Craftzine all contain inspirational ideas on how to create, not just consume, your world.

3. First Reduce… Then Reuse, and Recycle

Rubber bands help limit excess. Photo by Chilsta.

While providing ease and efficiency, disposable products also habituate you to buying more, continuously. Breaking the Baby Boomer bad habit of “use once-throw away” will save money, limited resources, and space at the dump.

- Swiffer mops, plastic water bottles, IKEA furniture, paper towels and such should go the way of the dinosaur. If it doesn’t last you longer than a year (even better would be a lifetime, but that’s a tad optimistic) then don’t consider buying it.

- Try the library over Amazon.com, thrift stores and reuse centers over designer stores, cloth over paper/plastic.

- If you absolutely must buy new, disposable products, try to avoid ones with unnecessary, gimmicky packaging or obvious planned obsolescence. For the ones you do buy, find a new life for them after initial use. Larger yogurt containers make great pots for plants. Old t-shirts can become a rag rug. Be creative.

Click here for an excellent overview of how production and consumption works, or rather doesn’t.

4. Get Moving

Photo by Mike P. Whelan.

One of the downsides to modern urban development is that commercial and financial centers are far removed from residential ones. Most of us have to commute daily and for relatively long distances (unless you’re lucky enough to telecommute to work).

- Even though it may feel like it, exercise typically won’t kill you. If that mile to the bus stop/ train station/ carpool pick up is what’s keeping you from joining the ranks of public commuters, just think about how much time you’ll save at the gym and money on gas–which will only become more expensive as reserves dwindle.

- More and more cities are offering benefits to those who take public transportation, such as tax-free commuter checks or free bus rides for cyclists. Check your city’s website for more info.

- For the times that you’re not at work, choose to explore your local community instead of schlepping across the city. You’ll discover unique facets of your neighborhood, which only stands to benefit from your patronage and participation.

5. Eat Like the French

Photo by Kate Elliot.

Despite the French’s dairy rich diets, they don’t experience obesity epidemics because they eat whole, they eat fresh, and they eat smaller portions. Avoiding factory farmed and processed foods will save you money and empty calories, not to mention alleviate strain on ecosystems.

– Make farmer’s markets your best friend. The more local the food, the better it is for ecosystems and economies. Like buying other local goods, not only are you avoiding middleman fees and transportation cost (and pollution), but you’re keeping money in the community instead of flushing it into the corporate toilet.

- Most Americans don’t like hearing this, but not only does industrialized meat production cost more than other factory farm products, it takes a heavy toll on the environment. Discover the joys of fish and other protein sources such as legumes and cheese.

- Eat slower and enjoy your food. The more time you allow for proper digestion, the smaller your portions. Having meals with friends and family (and not in front of idiot box) is a great way to make sure you don’t chow down on autopilot.

6. Water Crisis Is the New Oil Crisis

Photo by Patrick Desmet.

We may live on the Blue Planet, but thanks to global warming precipitation has been and will continue to become more erratic. While Mad Max extremities may not be a reality in your region or lifetime, conserving water now will make later droughts less dire. Not to mention easier on your monthly bills.

- Don’t be afraid to drink from the tap, no matter what corporate propaganda tells you about the laurels of Fijian imports. If it hasn’t killed your cat, then it probably won’t kill you either.

- Simple actions such as turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth to low-flow shower heads can reduce consumption 20-60%.

- Also, water can be reused. If it’s not too contaminated, consider reusing water for your garden or cleaning. Don’t just dump it down the drain.

Have more tips? Comment below.