Fred Harteis News Articles – 5 Things Not to buy on Line

Fred Harteis News Articles - The perks are obvious: There's no need to move off the couch and you can take advantage of online-only discounts and sales tax breaks.  But believe it or not, there are still some things you should buy in store.

Here are five things not to buy online.

Luxury Goods

Sure, you can find good deals online, but how about a Rolex for $50? A Prada handbag for $150? If you believe you're getting the real deal when you spot such steals, there's also a bridge for sale in Brooklyn that you might be interested in. Counterfeit goods account for about 13% of Internet purchases, says Stephen Polinsky, vice president of sales for GenuOne, a security technology company specializing in brand protection. "There's a real chance for an item to be misrepresented," he says. For example, you'll spot plenty of trendy Louis Vuitton Globe Shopper handbags on eBay. The photos, pulled from the brand Web sites, are of the real thing. But the real bag retails for $1,280, so what you see isn't going to be what you get when the sale price is $100.

Prescription Medications

Just how badly do you want to save a few bucks on that Viagra prescription? Fact is, knockoff prescription meds are as plentiful online as other fake goods, says Polinsky -- but they are much more dangerous. At best, you're buying sugar pills. At worst, according to the Food and Drug Administration, the meds could be expired, contaminated or contain improper dosages.

Fragile Electronics

When you buy a flat-screen TV from your local electronics store, you expect that it'll be handled with care by store employees every step of the way, from the store to your living room. But online, you have no way of knowing if that delicate screen will be schlepped to your doorstep on a truck that's also carrying a carton of loose bowling balls. The retailers don't make it easy, either. Most foist responsibility on the shipping carrier, rather than handle it themselves. PC Connection, for example, requires you to refuse damaged goods from the carrier, or note the damage when you sign for the delivery.

Groceries

If you're the type of shopper who likes to tap the melons, purchasing groceries online may already sound a little dodgy. But the price is the real reason to head to your local supermarket instead of online, says Teri Gault, founder of The Grocery Game, a consumer savings program.

When shopping online, expect to pay a premium for the convenience. You also miss out on the two hallmarks of savvy shopping: store specials and manufacturer's coupons. "You can't use manufacturer's coupons online," says Gault. And there's no way for the store to translate some steals, such as half-price meats and bakery breads at the end of the shopping day. Add in a delivery fee of $4 to $15 and the convenience of shopping online seems a little less handy for your wallet.

Intimate Clothing

No one relishes swimsuit shopping, so the inclination to do it online -- without the harsh and unflattering lights of a dressing room -- is tempting. But retailers may charge you an additional shipping fee to send items back, as well as restocking fees of up to 15%. While women have come to expect that finding the right bathing suit will take hours of try-on trial-and-error, buying bras and underwear can be equally tricky. Bra-cup size varies slightly by manufacturer. And many online retailers are (rightly so) finicky about accepting returns for such personal items.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Plastic Penalties

Fred Harteis - UP UNTIL SEVERAL months ago, 39-year-old Mark Martinez, was what you'd consider the credit-card industry's ideal customer. His payments were always on time. He never went over his credit limits. He even carried a balance on one of his cards, which meant he was bringing the bank a profit, to boot.

Then much to his shock, Martinez discovered that his card issuer had jacked up his interest rate to a whopping 29.99%. The reason: His $8,000 balance was dangerously close to the card's $8,800 limit. "It was really oddball," says Martinez, whose 790 credit score was high enough to get him any credit he applied for, at the lowest rates available.

Despite his pristine history, Martinez had encountered the latest scourge of the credit-card world: the so-called "default" rate, or punitive charges that credit-card companies can impose on customers suddenly deemed a higher credit risk. Default rates are typically triggered by things like a late payment or going over the credit limit. But they could also be the result of something as seemingly insignificant as running up a higher balance.

In fact, because of a practice called "universal default," credit-card issuers are actually allowed to hike their rates for pretty much anything, according to consumer-watchdog group Consumer Action. In its 2005 Credit Card survey, Consumer Action found that 90% of card issuers would use a universal default rate hike if a customer's credit score decreases, 86% would do so if they paid a mortgage or any other loan late. Nearly half (43%) would hit you with universal default if they decide you have too much debt, while 33% would do it for the exact opposite reason: too much credit available. You can see a rate hike even if all you do is get a new credit card (33%) or shop around for a car loan or mortgage (24%).

Negotiating Power Back in 2003, a study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a Washington, D.C., a consumer advocacy group, found that 56% of the consumers who called their credit-card companies to ask for a lower interest rate were able to get it within five minutes. That may not be as easy today, says US PIRG consumer program director Ed Mierzwinski. "They are being much more difficult because they're trying even harder to squeeze the last dollar out of your pocket," he says. "But if you're a good customer you should understand they don't want to lose you because the cost of acquiring new customers is very high."

Some prep work before asking for a lower rate will certainly help, says Scott Bilker, author of "Talk Your Way out of Credit Card Debt." "Look through your statements and tell them exactly how much you've spent on the card over the last two or three years," he says. "Tell them that business will be gone if they don't lower your rate."

Have at least one or two credit-card offers in hand before you call, says Linda Sherry, spokeswoman for Consumer Action. "Tell them, 'Look, these companies have sent me this preapproved offer. I'm seriously considering taking this, but I'm really loyal to you guys, and was wondering if you could take me down to 10.9%.'"

Alternatively, Bilker suggests, throw the credit-card company a bone. "Tell them, 'I'm buying a refrigerator. I could use your card, or I could use another card. Give me a special deal and I'll use you.'"

Jumping Ship If the card company won't budge on the rate, it's time to switch cards. And while 0% APR offers certainly aren't as easy to come by as in the past few years, there are still offers available for folks with good credit, says Bilker. He keeps an updated list of such offers on his web site. So do web sites CardWeb.com and CardRatings.com. Bilker's advice: If you plan to transfer a balance, ask to do it at the time you apply. It increases your chances of getting approved.

But be wary of balance transfer fees, which lately have also been on the rise, warns Cardratings.com's Arnold. While most fees used to be 3% of the transferred balance, up to a cap of $50 to $75, many card issuers now charge 4% of the balance with a cap of $90, Arnold says. Notably, Bank of America recently eliminated the cap on its 3% fee. So on a $10,000 transfer, you'd be hit with a $300 charge.

One more word of caution: Credit cards typically apply payments to the balance that carries the lowest rate. So if you take advantage of a 0% or low-rate offer on balance transfers, be sure to put the card in a drawer until you pay that balance off. Should you charge up a balance by making purchases, your payments will be applied toward that balance, which will likely carry a higher rate.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - 10 Cushy Jobs

Fred Harteis News Articles - Some people seem to have it so easy. While they're out enjoying a great job and earning an income doing it, you're slaving away and miserable at work. So what gives?

The answer lies in finding just the right job to fit your dreams and lifestyle.

If you're interested in pursuing a career with a high level of B.S., here are a few of Fortune magazines 100:

Cheese Artisan What they do: Craft cheese by traditional methods. What makes it cushy: The goal is to make high quality cheese art. Why it's not: Perfecting cheese-making by hand is time time-consuming and requires location commitment.

Professional Organizer What they do: Improve the organizational arrangements of closets, garages and other spaces for clients. What makes it cushy: It's a lucrative gig made easier with the variety of storage containers and organizational systems available in stores. Why it's not: Wealthy, pack-rat and picky clients with expansive, junk-filled estates or specific tastes may extend the length and labor of the job.

Aromatherapist What they do: Combine the knowledge of holistic medicinal methods and applications of suggested oils to create emotional and physical well-being. What makes it cushy: Getting paid to make people smell good and feel better. Why it's not: People may smell pretty funky to start with, and there's a lot to learn about the body, the oils and the applications

Pet Psychic What they do: Interpret the actions of pets to communicate the messages to their owners. What makes it cushy: Spending the day with pets to interpret issues like what makes them want to urinate in the living room. Why it's not: Sometimes the pets just don't want to communicate, which can make the process of trying a little chaotic.

Consultant What they do: Provide expert advice in an area of training, such as marketing or finance, for a specified time period. What makes it cushy: Working long enough to feel good about all of the problems they solved, and short enough to not have to worry about all of the new ones their solutions might cause. Why it's not: Workers feel threatened by the new changes, which could lead to backlash, or at the very least, ongoing alienation while consultants work with the company.

Food Critic What they do: Eat food dishes and review them in writing, based on their experience and expertise. What makes it cushy: Never going hungry and the chance to feel like their opinions really matter. Why it's not: The possibilities of having to take a few extra bites of something that isn't tasty to begin within order to write a complete review, and the build up of restaurants who will consider the food critic as the enemy after a bad review.

Handwriting Analyst What they do: Study handwriting works as a means for profiling human behavior and emotional developments What makes it cushy: The work varies, but you basically get paid to search for connections between people's personalities and feelings and how they slant their scribbles. Why it's not: There are a lot of different approaches in the analysis and there are not always definitive results for your clients.

Human Billboard What they do: Use the body as a canvas for advertising. What makes it cushy: Getting paid to sell space on something they already own. Why it's not: Depending on the client, the duration of the advertising, the campaign and the location of the advertisement (via forehead or elsewhere) human billboards may feel ridiculous.

Marriage Counselor What they do: Advise couples on how to take positive steps in handling their relationships. What makes it cushy: It is like being a couple's best friend who can see inside the relationship and offer advice, but counselors get paid and can avoid being forced to take sides. Why it's not: Things can get pretty intense when couples argue, and the most promising patients can be lost to the national divorce rate.

Motivational Speaker What they do: Lecture people in ways that inspire them to follow their goals. What makes it cushy: Talented talk, the right tone of voice and dedication to touring make motivation turn to money. Why it's not: It's a lot of work to try being continually upbeat, and people expect it all the time.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - College? Retirement? How to handle two big financial challenges

Fred Harteis News Articles - Is it possible to save for retirement and for a child's education at the same time? Sure, but it requires a pretty decent income and lots of disciplined saving. And even then it's no picnic.

Indeed, as a practical matter, Most people have enough trouble just saving adequately for their retirement. Throw in college education and it just becomes too overwhelming. Too often the result is that people don't address either goal adequately, or they get so discouraged that they sometimes give up altogether, figuring it's hopeless.

Have an emergency fund First, build a cash reserve, or emergency, fund. Have about three month's worth of living expenses in a very safe and readily accessible account - a money-market fund, savings account or perhaps an ultra-short-term bond fund, something with an average maturity of no more than two years.

The idea is to have a buffer that acts as a first line of defense against financial setbacks, a stash you can fall back on to cover unexpected expenses you can't fund out of your paycheck or to carry you until you find a new job in the event you're laid off.

You can give yourself a bit more wiggle room by opening up a home equity line of credit that you could tap when your emergency fund is on the verge of being tapped out.

Put as much as possible in retirement accounts After you've got your emergency reserve funded, start plowing as much as you can into your 401(k) or other retirement savings plan.

You, apparently, have embarked on this part of the plan before accumulating the emergency stash. I think it's better to do it the other way around, or, if you can manage it, build your cash reserve fund as you save at least something for retirement. But the most important thing is that once you've got that cash reserve together, you want to fatten up those retirement accounts.

Ideally, you want to contribute at least enough to your 401(k) to take full advantage of whatever match your company offers. But if you really want a shot at a comfortable retirement, probably shoot for socking away 10 percent to 15 percent of your salary in your 401(k).

If that's more than your plan allows, then do the max and try to make up the rest by opening up an IRA or even a taxable mutual fund account.

If you get started early enough - say, in your 20s or early 30's - contributing this amount should give you a good shot at an income that, combined with Social Security, should fund a comfortable lifestyle in retirement. If you don't get started until your 40s or later, however, you should try to ramp up your savings even more.

Unless you think you can get by on Social Security -  your only hope for a comfortable retirement these days is to save rigorously throughout your career.

With college expenses, on the other hand, there are several alternatives. Your kid may qualify for financial aid. You may be able to hit up the grandparents for help. Students can earn part of their tuition, or take out college loans. You could borrow against your home equity. You could even dip into your retirement accounts or other savings if you really, really need to.

Enhance your family's current financial situation by building a reserve fund and then set the stage for your future financial security by saving for retirement. If you can still manage to after that, then do whatever you can for your kids' education.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Holiday 2006: Retail winners and losers

Fred Harteis News articles - The recent drop in gas prices has given a needed boost to shoppers ahead of the holidays but retail experts aren't convinced that will translate into big sales gains for store chains.

Frank Badillo, senior economist with market research and consulting firm Retail Forward, thinks the upcoming holiday shopping season will be "good" but "not great."

The holidays are crucial for retailers since November and December often provide 50 percent or more of merchants' annual sales and profits.

Badillo expects fourth-quarter holiday sales to grow about 5.5 percent this year, slower than the 7 percent growth seen in the previous two holiday seasons, according to Retail Forward's estimates.

One bright spot? Online sales, where growth is expected to sizzle.

He delivered his forecast Wednesday during a Web cast of Retail Forward's holiday outlook.

For its part, the National Retail Federation (NRF), the industry's largest trade group, said it expects holiday sales to be "subdued" this year, forecasting a gain of 5 percent to $457.4 billion, which would fall short of last year's 6.1 increase.

Despite the summer surge in gas prices above $3 a gallon, retail sales have held up relatively well so far this year.

The subsequent drop at the pump should only help to "sustain the healthy pace of sales and especially the low-income shoppers," he said.

But gas prices are only the first of the trifecta of potential risks threatening consumer spending, with the softening housing market and higher interest rates still very much in play.

"Housing is the more immediate drag. The big unknown is how deep the housing slowdown will be," Badillo said.

In this environment, home improvement retailers become an immediate casualty, he said.

To his point, both Home Depot and Lowe's warned recently that their full-year results, blaming the housing-related spending slowdown.

While high debt loads and higher interest rates are making consumers more cautious, economists warn that the housing market could be a bigger problem down the road.

For years rising home values made consumers feel wealthier, acting as a bulwark against rising energy prices. When interest rates were falling and home prices were rising, Americans quickly refinanced their mortgages at lower rates, effectively turning their homes into piggy banks, and tapping into them for cash.

All that has changed.

"Longer-term, consumer prices are important too," Badillo said. "Government data shows core inflation is creeping up. If that trend continues, it will put pressure on the Federal Reserve to possibly increase rates further."

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - 12 Ways to Handle Interruptions at Work

Fred Harteis News Articles The average manager receives six interruptions an hour. And following each interruption, it can take more than five minutes for them to get back into their task.

While some disruptions are part of the job, others are time-wasters that rob you of precious hours as well as the satisfaction of attaining your goals. How can you end frivolous interruptions while managing the essential business-related ones? Here are 12 techniques:

1. Create daily and weekly to-do lists, based on your priorities, to keep you focused and able to discern whether an interruption is important or will help you accomplish your goals.

2. Identify which work relationships are most important and which individuals are chronic interrupters and time-wasters. Develop separate strategies for dealing with each. Set up guidelines as to whom you will interrupt work for, whom you will need to take care of later and whom to say "no" to or redirect somewhere else.

3. When you are interrupted, ask how long it will take, what they need and when they need it. Decide if you have time to handle it and when -- or whether you can refer them to someone else. Tell them what you can do, based on your "to-do" list. Always provide reasons why you can't do something for them immediately; mention a tight deadline or pressing meeting.

4. Sometimes it's easier just to answer their questions as quickly as possible and get back to your priorities. Set a time limit by saying, "I have five minutes. What may I do for you?"

5. If it is your boss who has the request, let him or her know what you're working on and ask which task should take priority.

6. To discourage impromptu interruptions and distractions, arrange your desk so you are not visible from the door or facing the entrance to your cubicle.

7. Curtail frivolous interrupters by standing up when they enter your work space while glancing at your watch. If they don't take a hint, ask them to walk with you while you talk. Then walk them to the restroom or back to their office so that you can control when the conversation ends.

8. During your most productive hours, send your calls to voicemail. Then set aside a time (preferably when your chatty neighbor usually drops by) to return them.

9. Unless you're expecting an urgent message, resist the impulse to constantly check e-mail. Consider eliminating desktop e-mail notification to reduce distractions.

10. Avoid holding meetings in your office or cubicle; that way you can leave when it's convenient.

11. When you've been interrupted mid-task, make a few notes to remind yourself where you were and what your next step is, so that you can more easily resume the project where you left off.

12. Follow the golden rule by not interrupting others or stopping by "just to chat" during regular business hours.

Following these time savers will help you cut down on frivolous interruptions and give you more time for doing those things that will bring you the greatest results and rewards.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Fired for Blogging?

Fred Harteis Articles - It was Merriam-Webster Online's No. 1 word of 2004, and FORTUNE magazine named it the No. 1 tech trend for 2005. Two surveys by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in November 2004 found that 8 million people say they have created one and almost one-third of Internet users say they read one. But it's still a mystery: Six of 10 Internet users say they don't know what "blog" means.

A blog, according to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, is "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks provided by the writer."

Bloggers write about their lives to keep friends and family up-to-date, talk about their industry, discuss hobbies or rant about their favorite reality TV show. But posting pictures of you at work, disclosing confidential information about your employer or bad-mouthing your co-workers could get you in hot water for committing inappropriate behavior.

Whatever bloggers are writing about work, employers don't like it. Employees have reportedly been fired for blogging at a number of companies, including Starbucks, Delta, Wells Fargo, Friendster and Kmart.

In a January 2005 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), only 3 percent of human resource professionals report disciplining an employee for blogging and none reported dismissing an employee for such behavior. Despite this, ejected bloggers stand by their claims.

What could be grounds for termination? If you are disclosing trade secrets or proprietary or confidential information on your blog or using excessive amounts of time when you should be working, it's possible you will reap the consequences, says Rosemary Haefner, vice president for human resources at CareerBuilder.com.

If you're thinking of starting your own blog or already have some, here's some advice to make sure your online diary isn't reason for your employer to let you go:

1. Know where your company stands.

Ask about the company blogging policy before you start, even if you are doing it anonymously, Simonetti advises. Does your company establish boundaries? Is blogging acceptable? Is it OK to mention your employer? Are there topics that are off limits? What are the consequences?

2. Blog on your own time.

If you are using company hardware, a company network or doing it on company time, you are likely bound by company policy and could be reprimanded or terminated for wrongful use, Haefner says.

3. Practice safe blogs.

"Employees who go around sharing negative or confidential information about their company, product or service -- either internal or external -- to the company would and should get fired," says Pete Quintas, CTO of SilkRoad Technology, creator of an enterprise blogging application called Silkblogs. "You need to be honest and not secretive about what you are writing unless you are willing to deal with the consequences."

4. Don't hide it from your boss.

Quintas says you should be honest about your blogging, and ask your employer if it is OK to do. "I would consider it analogous to asking your employer: 'I have been invited to speak on a panel at this industry conference; can I participate?'"

5. Use good judgment.

If you consider blogs and the Internet an extension of your voice, what you say on your blog about your company, product or service should be kept within the guidelines of what you would verbally say in public, according to Quintas. "Treat it with the same restraint of how you talk in person about your company, remembering that more people have access to what you say." he suggests. Don't say anything different than what you would say at a happy hour, or at a company holiday party, or at an industry trade show, or in front of a customer."

6. Others will disagree with you.

You can't please all people all of the time. As with any communications medium, the best advice is to be aware of the repercussions your decisions may have, Wright warns. "Anytime you post, you are effectively making a choice between being safe, and having something worthwhile to say. It's a rare occasion where you can both please everyone and come up with a new and engaging line of thought. Sometimes things you say will offend people, no matter where you're saying them."

Source: Aol.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Ringing up baby: What infants really cost

Fred Harteis News Articles - When you're expecting a baby, you get a lot of advice. Grandparents-to-be, co-workers, affectionately nosy old ladies on the bus -everyone has ideas.

A 2005 survey found that 87 percent of people with a baby on the way fear being stressed out by the expenses. Worse, 81 percent of new parents confirm those fears.

While a few financial changes are inevitable when you have another mouth to feed, a newborn doesn't have to turn your finances upside down. Only your sleep schedule.

Conventional wisdom: "Be prepared to spend a small fortune on baby stuff"

The verdict: True - to a point.

The typical new mom and dad spend $6,200 outfitting their baby in the first year, from cribs and car seats to clothing and formula.

Sure, infants need a lot of equipment. But the $7.1 billion baby products industry is also very good at selling unnecessary, overpriced paraphernalia to inexperienced parents who don't know any better, warns Alan Fields, co-author of "Baby Bargains," a consumer guide.

The key to not overspending, says Fields, is to focus on your primary job: creating a safe place for your baby to sleep, cry and soil diapers.

Stuffed animals and mobiles are fine, but only after you've covered essentials like a sturdy crib and practical onesies. And steel yourself against the hard sell.

Conventional wisdom: "Registering is tacky"

The verdict: False

People are going to buy you gifts anyway, so give them a little guidance on the items you'd appreciate most.   When people ask you what you want for the baby, by all means tell them -honestly. Otherwise, Fields says, you'll find your baby with a closet full of unworn sailor suits.

Conventional wisdom: "You'll have to slash your 401(k)"

The verdict: False: The impulse to cut retirement contributions to free up cash before you have a baby is understandable: This tiny new person's life depends on you, so socking away greens fees for the year 2037 seems a little selfish.  It's not. Getting in the habit of reducing contributions every time a new financial undertaking (like having a baby) comes along makes it difficult to restore your allocation to pre-baby levels, says Scott Kahan, financial planner and father of two.

Conventional wisdom: "Disposable diapers are the best deal"

The verdict: False

If there's a financial winner, it's cloth, although it might be a wash. (Heh.)

Consider: If you change your baby eight to 10 times a day, that would add up to 7,000 to 9,000 diaper changes from birth to age 2½. At an average price of 25¢ per disposable diaper, you'd spend $1,750 to $2,250.

A diaper service, meanwhile, might charge $15 a week for cloth diaper delivery and laundering. The tab to age 2½: $1,950.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - American’s 10 Biggest Wastes of Money

Fred Harteis News - When it comes to blowing money, we Americans have no peers. We are the world champions of frivolous spending and we have the record level of personal debt to

prove it.

A lucky few among us will earn and invest our way to riches. For the rest of us, the path to wealth comes not in how much we make, but how much we don’t spend. Here’s a look at 10 of Americans’ biggest wastes of money:

Extravagant weddings: Americans now spend an average of $30,000 on getting married and the more affluent often shell out six figures. Lost in the concern over appearances is the fact it’s having all your near-and-dears together, celebrating your future as husband and wife that makes a wedding so memorable. You need not sacrifice your retirement savings to create those memories.

“Premium” coffee-to-go: It’s okay to treat yourself occasionally to take-out coffee; it certainly tastes better than most home or office brew. But twentysomethings buy $3 java drinks like it’s just milk money -- and then complain Social Security won’t be there for them. How’s this for a shocker: The $750 in annual net pay a $3-a-day, work-week coffee habit consumes would yield almost $300,000 in an IRA growing 8% annually over 40 years. Better yet, break your caffeine addiction altogether.

Expensive option packages on new cars: Thanks to all-too-easy credit, our average-priced new car now sells for almost $30,000. Our sudden, intense longing for tripped-out wheels is driving that spike. How many of us buy the $3,000 option package just to get a global positioning system (GPS), when we once made do quite well with road maps and pulling into a gas station for directions when we were lost? Word to the wise: Instead of blowing six grand on options, buy the base model of a better car or truck. After a few thousand miles behind the wheel, you’ll be glad you did – especially come resale time.

Sports memorabilia: This market for the celebrity struck may be the greatest separator of fools and their money ever. One can only hope the saps who pay $700 for a baseball signed by disgraced steroid abuser Barry Bonds come to their senses. You may covet the signature of your favorite player, but keep in mind these souvenirs often are whipped off for $300 a pop by athletes getting paid $1,000-an-hour to attend a card show.

Cigarettes: Sure, it’s an obvious one, but when are we as a species going to evolve beyond this disgusting suicidal habit? We puffed away $88 billion worth of tobacco products last year, and  now fork out $7 for a pack of smokes. Don’t delude yourself into thinking you’re a smart spender just because you buy your smokes by the carton.

Impulse Internet buys: We spent $143 billion online last year, of which $61 billion went to travel spending. You may think you’re getting an amazing deal on travel sites and shopping search engines – with free shipping and no tax! But if you put that entire tab on your credit card, you could be paying the bill for years at a high interest rate. The Internet and its promise of unlimited choice and great deals could prove as big a wrecker of individuals’ personal finances as 24-hour access to cash via ATMs.

Gambling: Casino interests pulled a shrewd one getting the financial media to embrace their ruse of calling their industry “gaming” to sanitize its image. Their new wallet-pocketing method: Slot machines that no longer take coins, only bills discharged as electronic vouchers to insert in the next machine. That way you don’t see your losses as real money, just like the $25 chips in blackjack. Sure, we all have a right to throw away our hard-earned dough. But next time you walk into one of those $2 billion Vegas casinos, just remember, it wasn’t built with cash but with loans that, odds are, you’re going to help the owners pay off.

Fuel-inefficient vehicles: In the mid-1980s, we all questioned the sanity of people still driving gas guzzlers – and now most of us are spending $40 to $60 a pop filling up our own. The average 22 MPG for vehicles is unchanged for 20 years because we let Big Oil and automakers seduce us with cheaper gas and more powerful engines. It took Japanese automaker Toyota to give us our first great leap forward in the hybrid Prius and now it is about to overtake General Motors as the world’s biggest automaker. We can’t keep siphoning nasty subterranean ooze and combusting it into the atmosphere without a serious day of reckoning coming. The biggest and most necessary waste of money in human history may be what the world has to spend to save our ozone layer.

Fast Food: Fast food may seem cheap and convenient in the short run. But our fast-food addiction has turned us into a nation of beach balls with feet -- where all too many of us face life-threatening conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. A serious illness is a major cause of bankruptcy among individuals. Bad enough that we’re leaving future generations with a crushing national debt and melting polar ice caps, we’re also to blame for a childhood obesity epidemic. Eat at home. Whatever you throw together, guaranteed it’s healthier than fast food -- and cheaper for your family in the long run.

Christmas shopping: It’s not what we blow on holiday gifts -- $450 billion last year -- but how thoughtlessly we spend much of that sum that’s become a colossal waste. We hastily buy random items online and resort to impersonal gift cards when stuck for ideas. We worry about some perceived obligation to spend a certain amount, rather than putting thought into selecting a present that could bring real joy.

Source: Aol.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Article  - Can a Full-Time Mom Work Part-Time?

Fred Harteis News Articles  - Working mother -- Isn’t that redundant? Even today’s most savvy mom can feel confused about the benefits and trade-offs that come with working part-time. If you’re considering cutting back to a more “flexible” schedule, here’s the inside scoop.

1. Be ready not only for a pay cut -- but a “benefits cut.” Often this amounts to losing the equivalent of 25 percent of your pay. The result: Day care expenses might exceed your earnings!

2. Be ready for a “prestige and promotion cut.” You might feel frustrated watching full time friends gain status and promotions -- while you feel nervous merely making sure you remain needed and appreciated.

3.  Be ready for a "big emotional promotion" and "family time bonuses." It’s hard to put a price on the improvement in your overall quality of life – but you will feel a daily priceless bonus in connection with your loved ones.

4. Recognize that going part-time has benefits over going no-time. According to a recent report, taking one year off can result in one-third less pay over a 15-year career. Plus, trying to return, can prove frustrating when employer’s request recent job experience. Also, keep in mind that you presently have no overriding legal right to get your full-time job back -- unless you have something in writing.

5.  To request a part-time job, you need to describe what you want in writing to your boss, who then legally has 28 days to agree to your terms or meet with you to discuss them.

6. If you’re not yet a mom, but hope to be, it might be smart to find work now in a progressive company -- one which you know will give the best benefits to part-time working mothers.

Source; AOl.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Personal Budgeting: Establishing a Budget

Fred Harteis News Articles- Many of us fail to see the relationship between budgeting and saving. Budgeting is a process that starts by setting spending targets that help you to stay within your means of paying for the bills. A personal budget is useful in controlling personal expenses.

Reasons for having a personal budget usually change over time. In our 20s, we focus on repaying debts or saving for a down payment on a home. We may want to budget in order to set aside several thousand dollars for a trip around the world. In our 30s and 40s, budgeting is important to help pay for our children's living and college expenses. By the time we enter our 50s, saving for retirement becomes a major financial goal.

Some important steps in setting up a personal budget include:

Select a period to measure. A monthly budget often works best. Most of us pay our rent, mortgage, and utility bills monthly. It is also the period over which many of us get paid. If you are paid every two weeks, you can add the amounts to determine a monthly figure.

Calculate net cash flow for the period. Your personal net cash flow subtracts your cash expenses (cash outflows) from you cash income (cash inflows). If you charge with your credit card, add those charges to your cash expenses. Using your credit card is only a means of postponing cash outflows. While you're at it, be sure to add the little items, like those $4 lattes and video store trips. These items easily add up to $100 or more in a month.

Keep records. Accurate records will help you to keep a history of several budgeting periods. You can string together 12 months of budgets to create an annual budget. You can use your budget records to compare actual and budgeted spending. The differences in actual and budgeted spending are called variances. Be as precise in your record keeping as you can afford to be.

Monitor and review. Your records help you to compare how well you budget. The key is to identify positive budget variances—where your actual cash outflows are less than your budgeted cash outflows. These variances are a source of funds to save and invest. For example, if you budget $1,500 in monthly cash outflows but routinely only have cash outflows of $1,400, you have identified a source of savings worth $100 a month.

Save for an emergency fund. As you gradually find you can save each month, you may want to first set aside enough for an emergency fund. An emergency fund consists of three to six months of savings. An emergency fund is also called a rainy-day fund and should be used only to pay for unanticipated financial setbacks. These setbacks may include losing a job, becoming ill, or suffering the death of a family member.

Invest regularly. A personal budget may have led you to identify a way to save $100 a month. Investing this extra $100 every month lets you take advantage of dollar-cost averaging. Dollar-cost averaging is a basic principle of investing. Studies consistently show that, over time, dollar-cost averaging buys shares at a cheaper price than if you attempt to time your purchases. In addition, your regular contributions fuel the compounded growth of your investments.

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - How to Fix Errors on Your Credit Report

Fred Harteis News Articles - The Fair Credit Reporting Act is again your friend when it comes to fixing errors in your credit report.

Errors in your credit report include mistakes but they also include omissions. It's possible that actions you've taken to pay off a debt or clear up a delinquency, for example, are not showing in your credit report.

A useful rule of thumb is to review your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus at least once a year.

For one reason, each bureau has a slightly different version of your credit report. You may find an error or omission exists in one of your reports but not others. Credit bureaus compete with each other, which can result in them having disparate information about you.

Under the law, credit bureaus are required to investigate your claim, usually within 30 days. A credit bureau must forward all information you give it to the creditor or other "information provider" that is reporting an error on your credit report.

If the creditor or information provider determines an error exists, it must correct it and notify all major credit bureaus. In turn, the credit bureau that reported the error must send you a free credit report to show that it has been corrected.

To request an investigation of an error or omission:

Document your claim. Write a letter to the credit bureau with a clear explanation of what item on your credit report is erroneous. Be sure to phrase your request as a dispute of an item in your credit report. Send all available information to substantiate your claim and request the error be corrected.

Inform both credit bureau and creditor. At the same time you contact the credit bureau, you should also inform the creditor or information provider. After all, it is responsible for the error being reported to the credit bureau. Be sure to phrase your request as a dispute.

Send copies. Most likely, a credit report will have tipped you off to an error. Keep the original report and send the credit bureau and information provider a copy instead. In case you decide to litigate, original documents hold up better in court than copies.

Keep records. You will want to keep records of all correspondence with the credit bureau and information provider. Be sure to record vital information of any and all conversations. Include dates of the conversations and with whom you spoke.

Use certified mail. Using certified mail may cost a few extra dollars, but you receive notification from the deliverer that your letters have been received. The clock begins ticking for an investigation once the credit bureau receives your dispute.

If the credit bureau considers your request as frivolous, you may wish to contact the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's consumer help-line (877-FTC-HELP).

Notify any soft inquiries of corrections. If an error does exist, request the credit bureau to notify any parties that may have reviewed your credit report in the past six months. You can also request any corrected credit reports be sent to prospective employers that have accessed your credit report in the previous two years.

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Never Forget an Anniversary Again?

Fred Harteis News - Forgetful husbands beware! A jeweler may have stumbled onto a way to make sure you never forget your anniversary again.

The Remember Ring is a wedding band with some high-tech innards that heats up to give the wearer a burning reminder about the special day about 24 hours before it arrives.

It may be the most surefire way to ensure the flowers and dinner reservations are made on time, but there's one small problem -- the ring doesn't exist.

The idea belongs to Cleve Oines, who runs the Web site for Goldsmith Gallery.

"Originally it was sort of a 'ha-ha,' but it's been getting so much traffic that we've begun to wonder," he said.

Oines says the store's Web site normally receives about 500 unique visitors a day, but since word got out about the Remember Ring, the site has been struggling to keep up with an increase in traffic. He said traffic on the site is about 60 times higher in volume since word got out.

If the ring makes it out of Oines' mind and into reality, it likely wouldn't look exactly like the picture he posted but would incorporate the same concept.

"The question is space," he explained. "It can certainly be done. Whether it can be done in a thin band, or whether it would have to be a signet ring, we just don't know."

In an e-mail, Oines said the shop is in talks with an engineer to bring the ring to life sometime next year, and he guesses that it'll retail for around $700 to $800.

If the information that was posted on the Web site as part of the gag becomes reality, 24 hours before the big day the interior surface of the ring will heat up to 120 degrees for approximately 10 seconds. According to the site, it will continue to warm up "every hour, on the hour, all day long!"

"Using a micro thermopile, the Remember Ring converts the heat from your hand into electricity, keeping the battery charged and microchip clock running perpetually. Just specify your anniversary date when you order, and we'll program your ring for you. Set it and forget it -- until your anniversary!"

Interestingly, the response has been mixed, and while you might think women, who are often portrayed in film and television as being let down by their mates on anniversaries, are not as amused by the idea as their counterparts.

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Solve Your Family's Eating Challenges

Fred Harteis - “None of us loves fruits or vegetables. Solution: Getting enough produce is one of the best ways to protect your health. Turn fruit into treats and make veggies part of your daily menu.

• Add fresh berries to pancake and waffle mixes.
• Combine chocolate or vanilla pudding and bits of real fruit; freeze them in ice-pop molds.
• Have apple sundaes: Dip fresh apple slices into melted caramel or chocolate, peanut butter or low-fat whipped topping.
• Serve artichoke or spinach dip with baked tortilla chips or fresh celery sticks as an appetizer.
• Add scallions, chopped mushrooms and onions to turkey burgers.

·         Mix carrot juice into a fruit smoothie; it adds sweetness and color, but you won’t notice any carrot flavor.

Control Cravings

Love eating candy, can’t eat just one piece? Solution: Satisfy your sweet tooth with lower-calorie, healthier treats most days.

·         Sprinkle light microwave popcorn with cocoa powder for a crunchy, low-cal, chocolatey snack.

·         Fake a milk shake by combining fat-free chocolate or strawberry milk, vanilla yogurt and ice in a blender.

·         Make floats with diet orange or black cherry soda and vanilla frozen yogurt.

·         Buy small cups of low-fat pudding instead of cookies.

Eat a Low-Calorie Dinner

If you often don’t get home until it’s late, which doesn’t leave much time to cook, and that’s why you have fast food a lot. Solution: Limit high-fat foods and include more fruits and vegetables in meals to help cut calories.

·         Remake favorite cheese spaghetti. Use chunky marinara sauce, chopped peppers, lean ground turkey, one tablespoon of Parmesan cheese and whole-wheat pasta.

·         Update fried pork chop dish: Bake the chops (3 ounces each, the size of a deck of cards). Use evaporated skim milk and fresh herbs (like rosemary) to thicken and season one cup (the size of a baseball) of mashed potatoes. Have more vegetables, such as a healthy side salad.

Make Meals Television Free

If the family eats every dinner in front of the television, and most breakfasts in the car.

Solution: Eating while working or watching TV can lead to overindulging. If you don’t focus on enjoying your meal, you’ll end up eating too fast and too much.

·         Make dinnertime family time. Gather around the table and dive into a fun conversation while relaxing over a healthy meal. You’ll feel closer and healthier. Many bookstores carry conversation cards to help revitalize the family meal.

·         Really enjoy your meals. When you eat without distraction, you’re more likely to eat less but feel more satisfied. Eating on the run and while watching TV could be one reason your feeling hungry all the time.

Stop Missing Major Nutrients

If your children are picky eaters. Solution: Kids need nutritious foods to grow properly and keep their immune systems strong. Have healthier snacks and incorporate fruit and veggies into every meal.

·         Whip up a smoothie anytime to get one full serving of dairy and one full serving of fruit. In a blender, mix one cup 1 percent low-fat milk with a half cup frozen strawberries, half cup canned crushed pineapple and half of a small banana.

·         Keep ready-to-eat yogurt, string cheese and low-fat chocolate milk in the refrigerator for a daily boost.

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles- 10 biggest mistakes b-school applicants make

Fred Harteis News Articles - The application process for business schools is beginning, sparking the annual frenzy of activity - and copious questions. Do you need a business resume to get in? How many years of work experience do you need? How much is a b-school education going to boost your salary?

Stacy Blackman Consulting, which guides b-school applicants through the process, has compiled a list of the 10 most common mistakes that applicants make - and how to make sure you avoid them.

1. Relying on rumors rather than talking to the school's students and faculty.

"There's a lot about schools on the Web now, but message boards can really spread misinformation - about certain things you have to do or scores you have to beat," says Blackman. "Call the admissions office or get in touch with a current student instead - first-hand research is so important."

2. Trying to fit yourself into a preconceived business-school mold.

If you think that only consultants and bankers get into top schools, you've never seen a freshman b-school class. There's no perfect MBA candidate, so don't try to be that person on your application. "A background in finance isn't necessary. This isn't a degree in finance - it's a degree in management," says Blackman. "You don't have to have business experience, but you do have to demonstrate that you can handle this kind of curriculum."

3. Focusing only on career achievements to the exclusion of your other passions.

Your average admissions officer is going to read about the professional lives of thousands of candidates. But your life doesn't end at 5 pm each day. "Admissions people are looking at somebody who may have worked in a large company for two or three years - it may be easier to show all your values and goals through other activities," says Blackman.

4. Failing to address weaknesses on your record such as a low GPA.

You don't have to be the perfect candidate, but don't think you can gloss over shortcomings on your record. An admissions committee is willing to accept a few chinks in your armor, as long as you have a reasonable explanation for them - and no excuses.

5. Having too many people look over your application essays.

Yes, the essays can be the most powerful part of your application process, and everybody has something different to contribute to what you've written. But have your essays read by a few people who know your strategy, says Blackman.

6. Failing to actively manage your recommendation process - and make it easy on your recommender.

If you're tempted to hand off a blank recommendation sheet to your college professor and be done with it, you've got another thing coming. Your recommender is probably time-strapped and doesn't remember those three amazing examples of your leadership. Show him your essays and an outline of your strengths, says Blackman. Take him out to lunch and talk over your goals. If you make it easy on them, they may even be more complimentary.

7. Sacrificing the quality of your application to get them in earlier.

Yes, b-school applications come in rounds, and some are better than others. But admissions officers don't want to read a rushed app.

As for the rounds, there's no evidence of a big difference in admissions between the first and second. "Submit when you're ready," says Blackman. "I haven't found any evidence that submitting in Round Two hurts you."

8. Not preparing enough for the admissions interview.

"Applicants have slaved over essays and think they've already explained why they want to go to this school," says Blackman. "But you need to practice out loud." Get your friends to do mock interviews with you, says Eric, a first-year student at the University of Chicago's business school who asked that his last name not be used. "Figure out some likely interview questions, and get a candid opinion about your presentation," he says.

9. Not being realistic about your own abilities.

Reading that you work 100-hour weeks while raising 10 orphans and running your own business will only raise eyebrows at schools. "If you present too rosy of a picture, you lose credibility," says Blackman. "Schools are looking for people who are really self-aware."

10. Giving canned responses to essay and interview questions.

Assuming what people want to hear is a great way to get burned. And imagine the number of people who try to tell the admissions committee just that.

Source; Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles – 10 Things Your Hospital Won't Tell You

Fred Harteis News Articles -  In recent years errors in treatment have become a serious problem for hospitals, ranging from operating on the wrong body part to medication mix-ups. According to a report from the Institute of Medicine, at least 1.5 million patients are harmed every year from being given the wrong drugs -- that's an average of one person per hospital per day. One reason these mistakes persist: Only 10% of hospitals are fully computerized, with a central database to track allergies and diagnoses, says Robert Wachter, chief of medicine.

1. While the system is improving, it still has a long way to go. Patients should always have a friend, relative or patient advocate from the hospital staff at their side to take notes and make sure the right meds are being dispensed.

2. "You may leave sicker than when you came in."

A week after Leandra Wiese had surgery to remove a benign tumor, the high school senior felt well enough to host a sleepover. But later that weekend she was throwing up and running a fever. Thinking it was the flu, her parents took her to the hospital. Wiese never came home. It wasn't the flu, but a deadly surgical infection. About 2 million people a year contract hospital-related infections, and about 90,000 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The recent increase in antibiotic-resistant bugs and the mounting cost of health care -- to which infections add about $4.5 billion annually -- have mobilized the medical community to implement processes designed to decrease infections. These include using clippers rather than a razor to shave surgical sites and administering antibiotics before surgery but stopping them soon after to prevent drug resistance.

3. "Good luck finding the person in charge."

Helen Haskell repeatedly told nurses something didn't seem right with her son Lewis, who was recovering from surgery to repair a defect in his chest wall. For nearly two days she kept asking for a veteran -- or "attending" -- doctor when the first-year resident's assessment seemed off. But Haskell couldn't convince the right people that her son was deteriorating. "It was like an alternate reality," she says. "I had no idea where to go." Thirty hours after her son first complained of intense pain, the South Carolina teen died of a perforated ulcer.

In a sea of blue scrubs, getting the attention of the right person can be difficult. Who's in charge? Nurses don't report to doctors, but rather to a nurse supervisor. And your personal doctor has little say over radiology or the labs running your tests, which are managed by the hospital. Some facilities employ "hospitalists" -- doctors who act as a point person to conduct the flow of information. Haskell urges patients to know the hospital hierarchy, read name tags, get the attending physician's phone number and, if all else fails, demand a nurse supervisor -- likely the highest-ranking person who is accessible quickly.

4. "Everything is negotiable, even your hospital bill."

When it comes to getting paid, hospitals have their work cut out for them. Medical bills are a major cause of bankruptcy, and when collectors are put on the case, they take up to 25% of what is reclaimed, according to Mark Friedman, founder of billing consultant Premium Healthcare Services. That leaves room for some bargaining.

5. "Yes, we take your insurance -- but we're not sure about the anesthesiologist."

The last thing on your mind before surgery is making sure every doctor involved is in your network. But since the answer is often no for anesthesiologists, pathologists and radiologists, what's a patient to do?

Call your insurance company to help resolve the issue. If it's elective surgery, ask a scheduling nurse in the surgeon's office to find specialists in your plan, says South Bend, Ind.-based billing sleuth Mary Jane Stull. And if you know your procedure will be out-of-network, call the hospital billing department to negotiate. It will likely point you to a patient representative or the director of billing. Once you've dealt with the hospital, then try the surgeon or other specialists involved -- some hospitals will back you in those discussions, Friedman says.

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles- The Best Time to Buy Everything

Fred Harteis News Articles - AT 50 CENTS a roll — instead of the regular retail price of $4 — buying wrapping paper after New Year's is an easy way to save. The same holds true for buying half-price inflatable pool loungers and patio furniture after Labor Day weekend.

In fact, bargain lovers know that there's a smart time to buy just about anything. For example, those looking for a great deal on a car should shop on weekday mornings in September. Groceries are cheapest on Sunday evenings.

Airplane Tickets

 When to buy: On a Wednesday, 21 days (or a couple of days earlier) before your flight.

 Why: Airlines make major pricing changes (and run fare sales) every week, typically on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings. About 21 days out from your flight, you'll see plenty of deals out there as airlines scramble to fill seats, says Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, a consumer travel advice Web site. Don't wait much longer, she cautions; prices jump significantly from 14 to seven days ahead of departure.

Appliances

 When to buy: During a holiday weekend.

 Why: You'll find sales on select models all year long, but retailers bring out the big guns for holiday weekends, says Carolyn Forte, homecare director for the Good Housekeeping Institute. But don't worry about spending your Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends shopping for a new fridge — smaller holidays like Columbus Day and President's Day have their share of sales, too.

Baby Clothes

 When to buy: During your pregnancy.

 Why: Once you know your due date, keep an eye out for end-of-season clearances, recommends Alan Fields, co-author of "Baby Bargains." "If you're [newly] pregnant now, you know you'll be having a baby next summer," he says. "Well, right now, stores are closing out all the summer clothes." You can pick up newborn essentials like onesies for less than half price. For

Broadway Tickets

When to buy: Hours before the curtain rises.

 Why: How does a $25 front-row seat to the smash musical "Wicked" sound? Several musicals offer same-day ticket lotteries that offer up orchestra seats at inexpensive prices. If you'd rather not gamble on getting a seat, wait in line at the famous TKTS booth in Times Square. There, you can get tickets for hit musicals for up to 50% off. On a recent night, prime seats were available for "Hairspray," "Rent," "Sweeney Todd" and "Beauty & the Beast."

Cars

 When to buy: Weekday mornings in September.

 Why: By September, all the next year's models have arrived at the lot, and dealers are desperate to get rid of the current year's leftovers, says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. It's the prime time of year for incentives and sales, not to mention bargaining. "Any car that's been on the lot for a long time loses its value in the eyes of the car salesman," he says.  Heading to the dealership on a weekday morning also helps because there's low foot traffic, meaning you'll have ample time to negotiate and fewer people trying to buy the same car.

Clothing

 When to buy: Thursday evenings, six to eight weeks after an item arrives in stores.

 Why: After an item lingers in stores a month or more, retailers start dropping its price to get it out the door, says Kathryn Finney, author of "How to Be a Budget Fashionista." These season-end clearances tend to be the same month that designers host fashion weeks (February and September) to preview the next fall or spring collections. So smart buyers can check the catwalk to see if any of this season's trends — say, leggings or military-style jackets — will still be hot next year, and then scoop them up on clearance.

Computers and electronics

 When to buy: Just after a new model is launched.

 Why: When the latest and greatest of a product is released, you'll often see prices drop on what had previously been the best thing out there, says Tom Merritt, executive editor for CNET, an electronics review web site. Case in point: When Apple released the Nano last September, prices for the now-discontinued Mini dropped 12%, from $199 for a 4GB to about $175. So keep your eyes open for announcements from major manufacturers. Want a little less work? Time your purchases for after big annual technology show like MacWorld (next held Jan. 8-12, 2007) and the International Consumer Electronics Show (next held Jan. 8-11, 2007).

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - 3 smart ways to get a raise

Fred Harteis News Articles - Let's say you're a graphic designer who's honed her creativity, or a technical writer whose prose is crisper than it was a year ago, or a help-desk staffer who's gotten more adept at handling complicated requests - any of these makes you more valuable to your employer, but they're difficult to pin a number on. Still, you can become more visibly valuable.

"The trick is to head it off at the pass. Get out in front of it and start doing certain things six months to a year before you're going to ask for a raise," says David Lorenzo, a partner at the Gallup Organization (the management consulting side, not the pollsters) and author of Career Intensity: Business Strategy for Workplace Warriors and Entrepreneurs. He suggests three approaches you might try:

Help other people fulfill their potential - especially your boss. Says Lorenzo, "If you can find ways to help the people directly above you not only meet their goals but also look good in front of their bosses, they will want to reward you. Bosses don't have their heads in the sand about this. They will want to keep you happy."

Fix something. "Go out of your way to identify a system or a procedure that doesn't work very well and figure out how to improve it," Lorenzo says. At one of his client companies, a couple of departments got paid at midday on Fridays - a source of much frustration and grumbling since employees often couldn't get to the bank in time to cash their checks or, if they had direct deposit, found that the funds posted on Friday were not available until Monday.

"One of the administrative assistants took it upon herself to work with the payroll department on a new system for distributing pay so that people got their checks on Thursdays instead, which made all the difference," recalls Lorenzo. "If you take initiative and take action, it will be clear that you're valuable, even if you can't quantify it."

Get something started. "About 80% of the effort on any project is expended in just building up the momentum to get it started in the first place," Lorenzo says. "Be good at that and you become a 'go-to' person."

Of course, you may already have done one or more of these things. In that case, don't be shy about reminding your boss of what you have contributed. Writing down a list of your achievements and improvements over the past year may help you to stay focused. Then, sit down with your boss and explain why you believe you're worth more.

Unfortunately, not all bosses recognize and reward you for such accomplishments. If you go the extra mile and are unlucky enough to work for someone who just doesn't appreciate it, at least you'll have made yourself more marketable to your next employer.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Butter Up Your Boss by Sign

Fred Harteis News Articles - Want to gain an edge over your co-workers and get along better with the boss? Hard work may be the foundation for staying in your supervisor's good graces, but you can also figure out what your manager wants most from employees based on his or her astrological sign. Whether you're itching for a raise, working toward a promotion or you just want your chance to shine, the following advice will set you on the path for career success.

Aries (March 20 to April 19)

Aries supervisors like bold workers who display courage and get a job done quickly. Show that you aren't afraid to take the lead, try something new or make the sale no matter what. The Aries boss is great at emergency situations, but not so great at follow-through or day-to-day details. Pick up the detail work and let your actions prove your worth to your Ram supervisor. Gain bonus points by being prepared to pinch-hit for the boss and lead a meeting on short notice.

Taurus (April 20 to May 20)

The bottom line for the Bull boss is the bottom line. Money and finance take the lead in the Taurus supervisor's priorities, so the more you can contribute to office prosperity, the better. The Taurus boss also loves personal comforts such as a quality desk chair, cushy backrest or morning coffee and sweets. Keep flowers or green plants in the office on a regular basis to convey the serene, prosperous vibe the Taurus supervisor loves.

Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

To please the Twin supervisor, keep up on new trends in your field and make sure your boss is up-to-date on the latest information as well. Keep your PDA or Rolodex full of names of the right people to contact in any situation. Knowledge and mobility are the keys to Gemini's contentment, so attend networking events, have reliable transportation and be available at a moment's notice to keep the Twin boss happy.

Cancer(June 21 to July 21)

More than any other sign, the Cancer boss sees his or her workers as family. Sure, the office clan may have all the crazy workings of the Soprano family, but cozy holiday parties may make up for office dramas played out during the year. The Cancer supervisor often has trouble keeping the line clear between personal and professional matters. Gain points by listening to his or her concerns about personal issues when necessary, yet keep what you share on the professional level.

Leo (July 22 to Aug. 22)

The Leo boss was born to lead, and (if you're lucky) will do so warmly, generously and creatively. Assist your Leo boss in bringing elements of fun to the office environment, like sports pools, parties or incentive programs. Since the Lion is usually better with face-to-face interaction than with computers, gain points by giving your Leo boss a hand with understanding the latest technologies. Leos like grooming new leaders, as long as they don't upstage Numero Uno.

Virgo (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22)

Be punctual and work hard to score points in the Virgo supervisor's playbook. Your Virgin boss notices missing details such as blank spaces on spreadsheets or documents, so make sure to dot your i's and cross your t's on work projects. You'll be especially valued by the Virgo boss if you spot flaws before they create problems for everyone (but please, no tattling on co-workers!), and if you keep a clean, efficient and orderly workspace.

How to Butter Up Your Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius or Pisces Boss

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - 5 ways to protect yourself against pretexting

Fred Harteis News Articles - It's not just about millionaires spying on other millionaires.

"Pretexting," the tactic investigators hired by Hewlett-Packard used to snoop on HP board members and reporters, is a big concern for everyone.

The practice involves someone pretending to be you or pretending to be someone representing you to get phone records or other valuable information.

Consumers are already extremely vulnerable to pre-texting by any number of entities, including identity thieves, brokers who sell personal data, stalkers and anyone who wants to get a better handle on your circumstances and affiliations.

According to Robert Ellis Smith, publisher of The Privacy Journal, several parties potentially might be interested in your phone records, including employers, exes and debt collectors.

When it comes to gaining access to your financial records, thieves might want your banking or credit records to gain access to your funds, open accounts in your name or otherwise build enough of a profile to pass themselves off more convincingly as you.

The criminality of pretexting is not as clear cut as one might hope.

"From a civil perspective, it is illegal to use pretexting to gain access to confidential consumer records," said Robert Douglas, editor of PrivacyToday.com. In other words, the pretexter, if caught, may be subject to fines.

In addition, Douglas said, many states --  have outlawed the use of pre-texting to obtain phone records, with some of them making it a civil offense and others making it a criminal offense, punishable by prison. And in many cases, pretexting may be criminally prosecuted under other laws such as identity theft and fraud.

To date, however, it has been hard to prove that anyone other than the actual party that engaged in pretexting is guilty of a crime. "It's very difficult to get someone twice or three times removed from the act," Douglas said. In HP's case, for instance, prosecutors might need to prove that someone at HP had knowledge of the methods investigators would use to obtain the phone records.

"'Should have known' isn't a standard in the law,"

What can you do to protect yourself?

"If someone wants to pretext you, they can do it because the system is so easy to beat," said attorney and privacy consultant Mari Frank.

One way to make the system less easy to beat is to insist the companies with which you do business strengthen the way they verify your identity when you (or a pretexter pretending to be you) requests your records.

Frank recommends that you contact your phone companies, banks and any other businesses where you have accounts, and do five things:

-- Change your passwords so that they are at least 8 to 10 characters long, combining letters and numbers. Be sure, too, to change your passwords every six to eight months

-- Insist the company never use your Social Security number for verification of your identity and instead use a randomly assigned number.

-- Ask the company to use three to four pieces of information to verify your identity, especially if it continues to use the last four digits of your Social Security number.

For example, have them ask you specific questions as part of the verification process the answers to which are not easy for others to get. Instead of asking for your mother's maiden name -- information which can be found in plenty of databases -- it would be better to be asked something along the lines of "what is the name of your favorite teacher in grade school?"

-- Insist that they only send account statements to your home address.

-- Insist that they only accept a change of address request in writing and that they verify that you want that change in address either by calling you or sending a postcard to your old and new address.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articls - 10 Crimes of Work Fashion

Fred Harteis News Articles - Fair or not, appearance matters in the workplace. Just ask Desiree Goodwin. The Harvard assistant librarian sued the university in 2005, claiming she was rejected for jobs or passed over for promotions 16 times because her supervisors viewed her as just a "pretty girl" who "wore sexy outfits," according to media reports.

When it comes to professional perception, clothes make a difference. According to a survey by Office Team, an administrative staffing firm, 80 percent of workers say a person's work wardrobe affects his or her professional image.

This means that dressing appropriately is a must if you want to be taken seriously at work. But knowing what's acceptable attire isn't easy in today's workplace. Business-casual dress codes vary widely between companies, and even between departments. The following items, however, are almost never acceptable to wear to work:

1. The crime: Poor-fitting clothing

Too-tight clothing is never flattering and usually too revealing, but too-baggy clothes make you look sloppy and unprofessional. Pant length also matters -- if you're showing too much sock or leg, expect to be teased all day about an upcoming flood.

2. The crime: Too much perfume or cologne

You never want your co-workers or clients to smell you before they see you, and a colleague could be severely allergic to your favorite scent.

3. The crime: Shorts or too-short skirts

Showing too much leg is never a good professional move -- for women or men. Revealing a little leg makes men appear overly casual or sloppy, and makes women look more sexy than serious.

 Men should stick with long pants, and women should wear shorts or skirts that hit within an inch-and-a-half of the knee.

4. The crime: Out-of-control hair

Whether it's frizzy coifs or bushy beards, wild hair just doesn't look professional.

5. The crime: Dirty, ripped or torn jeans

Even on casual Fridays, ripped jeans look too dirty and messy for the workplace.

6. The crime: Cleavage

There are very few legitimate jobs where showing off your chest is a good career move.

Cover up. Whenever possible, avoid wearing anything low-cut to the office. If you can't part with your V-neck shirts, simply buy a few camisole shirts to wear underneath them.

7. The crime: Tank tops

Showing too much skin in the office is never a good idea, and tank tops are especially inappropriate for men.

8. The crime: Noisy jewelry

An armload of bangles or long, dangling earrings are perfect choices for a bar, but downright distracting in the office.

9. The crime: Gym attire

Even in the most casual workplaces, yoga pants, shorts, T-shirts and running shoes make you look sloppy and apathetic.

At the very least, wear nice jeans and professional-looking shoes. If you're going to the gym or catching a flight after work, change into your comfortable clothes in the bathroom on the way out.

10. The crime: Extremely high heels

Extremely high heels are too sexy for the workplace -- not to mention impractical. Few things would be more embarrassing than wobbling or tripping over your extreme footwear in front of the boss.

Source: Aol.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Hiring expected steady for rest of year

Fred Harteis News Articles - Employers project healthy hiring for the fourth quarter, despite talk of a possible downturn in the economy.

Twenty-eight percent of the 14,000 employers polled in the quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey expect to add employees to their payrolls during the fourth quarter this year. Eight percent said they expect to cut staff and 58 percent expect no change.

The survey also revealed that most sectors - seven of 10 - will keep their hiring consistent with the previous quarter. In the mining sector, more jobs are expected, and employers in the education and finance/insurance/real estate sectors expect less hiring.

Overall, hiring patterns do not show any significant signs of a slowdown, despite concerns about an upcoming slackening in the economy.

"Eleven quarters of consistent survey results show that the job market is not prone to radical swings at this stage," said Jeffrey Joerres, CEO of Manpower, a recruiting firm, in a statement. "Even the economic pressures of 2006, such as rising interest rates, energy costs and inflation, were not enough to rattle employer confidence.

"Employers are also experiencing difficulty in finding skilled people, which is contributing to the moderate hiring plans," he added.

The strongest job prospects are expected in the West, while the weakest hiring is predicted for the Midwest.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - They're Earning What? America's Highest Starting Salaries

Fred Harteis News Articles - If you're expecting to live the good life right after graduation, you'd better be good with numbers -- and not just so you can learn to balance your budget. The highest salaries offered to the class of 2005-06 were for jobs requiring significant quantitative prowess, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' (NACE) Summer 2006 Salary Survey.

Students who major in numbers-based fields can yield starting salaries $25,000 higher than their liberal arts counterparts. Chemical engineering majors, for example, received starting salary offers averaging more than $56,000, the survey revealed. English majors, by contrast, reported salary offers averaging just $31,000.

Across the board, engineering grads fared well on the salary front. Civil engineering grads' starting salaries averaged about $46,000, while electrical engineering majors were offered nearly $54,000 and mechanical engineering grads were offered $52,000. Engineering disciplines also accounted for four of the 10 most in-demand majors among employers.

New graduates with business-related degrees also reported relatively high starting salary offers. The average salary offer to accounting majors was $46,000. Economics/finance majors were offered more than $45,000, and business administration/management graduates reported offers of just over $42,000.

That's not to say communications gurus can't earn fat paychecks, too -- but their jobs usually pay well in the form of bonuses rather than high guaranteed salaries. Entry-level sales jobs, for instance, offer starting salaries around $40,000, according to NACE. But a superior salesperson can bring home twice that -- or more -- when bonuses and commissions are factored in.

Although many of these jobs -- investment banking being a notable example -- can carry high bonus potential, they also offered the highest starting salaries to this year's graduates.

The Top 20

1. Investment Banking (Sales and Trading) -- $56,534

2. Chemical Process Engineering -- $55,405

3. Hardware Design and Development -- $54,804

4. Software Design and Development -- $53,592

5. Production Engineering -- $53,242

6. Systems Engineering -- $52,486

7. Research and Development Engineering -- $51,927

8. Investment Banking (Corporate Finance) -- $51,436

9. Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering -- $51,342

10. Systems Analysis and Design -- $51,167

11. Field Engineering -- $51,161

12. Test Engineering -- $50,971

13. Consulting -- $50,657

14. Project Engineering -- $49,888

15. Computer Programming -- $49,086

16. Other Computer-Related Occupations -- $48,192

17. Design/Construction Engineering -- $48,025

18. Quality Control Engineering -- $47,783

19. Financial/Treasury Analysis -- $46,448

20. Auditing (Public) -- $46,242

Source: AOl.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Best Employee Perks

Fred Harteis News Articles - When you're on the lookout the next career move, a lot of factors play into deciding which job could be the right fit for you. In addition to being something you love, you probably wouldn't mind a generous salary, flexible hours and a few more perks.

Although salary is one of the biggest issues for job seekers, it can pay to take a closer look at the perks many companies are offering. Once considered an exclusive benefit for upper-level management and senior positions, perks are now spread across all levels of employment, from CEOs to fast food workers.

According to the 2006 Benefit Survey Report from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), here are the top benefits based on employee levels:

Executive-Level Employees:

Cellular phones: 84 percent

Relocation expenses: 71 percent

Supplemental life insurance: 68 percent

Middle-Management Employees:

Cellular phones: 67 percent

Supplemental life insurance: 61 percent

Relocation expenses: 55 percent

Non-Management Employees:

Supplemental life insurance: 58 percent

Supplemental long-term disability insurance: 42 percent

Supplemental medial insurance or reimbursement: 29 percent

The list of job perks isn't limited to these examples. Incentives that were unheard of in the '90s workforce are now standard at some companies, who are extending benefits beyond health care and retirement plans. The inclusion of on-site services such as manicures, laundry and daycare are enabling employees to cut their errands in half. Massage chairs, yoga classes and even napping have been encouraged to cut back the daily errands and reduce workers' stress levels.

According to a survey by the Massage Therapy Journal, more than half of the companies that offer massages have added the benefit in the last five years. A company named MetroNaps has taken on-the-job dozing to a futuristic form with pods that, while currently are limited to a space in the Empire State Building and on-site leased locations, enable a place to crash at work without requiring employees to be hunched over their desks or holed up in their cars.

With all of the advantages out there, job seekers should be aware of the perks that could best improve their lifestyles. Here are just a few of the great perks out there and some of the companies that offer them:

Tuition reimbursement: Gap Inc., Verizon Wireless; Northrop Gunman

Fully paid luxury retreats for all employees: Homestead Technologies, Inc.

On-site daycare: AFLAC; Memorial Health; Bright Horizons; Quad Graphics; Walgreens

On-site fitness center: CA, Inc.

On-site massage: People's Bank

Dependent care reimbursement: Black & Decker

Reimbursement for buying a hybrid: Bank of America Corporation; Timberland

Sleep breaks at work: Kaye/Bassman; Le Gourmet Gift Basket

On-site concierge service for everyday errands: Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital

On-site cafeteria with discounts on the healthier choices: The Regence Group

Paid rent/mortgage for one year tax free (to one lucky employee as a bonus): GoDaddy.com

Source: AOL.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.  Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.