10 Ways to Pamper Yourself on a Budget

Posted on March 20, 2012 by M2 The Agency

In this guest post, Mary Harris – an Ocean County resident, co-owner of local natural products business Heaven & Earth LLC, professor at Monmouth University, and holistic nutrition student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, provides you with ways to pamper yourself on a budget.

She writes:
Believe it or not, money does not have to be an item of concern when it comes to pampering yourself. In fact, finding new ways to treat yourself right can be fun and rewarding and help reduce stress. You can even invite family and friends to take part in some of the pampering, if you want to. Here are my top ten tips for pampering yourself on a budget, with a healthy twist!

1. Enjoy a cup of hot tea– Tea is a worldly drink that, in my opinion, has the power to soothe the soul. Teas can be delicious and healthy to boot. Choose your flavor and style of tea (naturally decaffeinated, organic, loose, bagged, black, red, green), brew it in a tea kettle, pour it in a pretty cup, and take your time sipping your worries away.

2. Take a relaxing bath – The power of water is incredible, and baths are just one example. Light a couple of candles in a safe place and draw up a hot bath with your favorite natural soap or bath fizzy close at hand. (Pictured left, Heaven & Earth, LLC’s Lemon Rose Blossom Bath Fizzy).

3. Read a good book – A visit to the library or paperbackswap.com might be in order, because reading can be truly therapeutic and virtually cost-free if planned right. Find a quiet place to enjoy some time each day to read, even if it is just fifteen minutes at a time. Escape into Book Land.

4. Make a homemade facial mask – Healthy facial masks are inexpensive and easy to whip up. One of my favorite recipes for dry skin during the cold winter months is ½ an avocado mixed with ¼ cup of local, raw honey. Mash the ingredients together, mixing well, and apply to clean skin for ten-fifteen minutes and then rinse thoroughly. It is important to try to buy local, raw honey from a sustainable honeybee keeper since it is healthier for us and for our friends the honeybees.

5. Go on an antiquing adventure with a friend or two – Going antiquing or shopping at yard sales, flea markets, and second-hand shops can produce unique and economical décor and items for you and your space; not to mention, you get to meet interesting people who might be able to share a part of history with you.

6. Create the perfect playlist – Make yourself a relaxing, inspirational, and/or fun playlist just for you. Sites like Project Playlist and Spotify are great resources for music and creating customized playlists to enjoy legally and for free.

7. Buy yourself a journal – Find a journal that is a reflection of you. Keep it by your bed and free write happy thoughts, goals, beautiful quotes, and hopes and dreams in the morning when you wake up – and at night before you go to sleep, or whenever you feel motivated to do so.

8. Take pleasure in fruit and chocolate – Buy yourself some organic berries and dark chocolate, prepare them on a fancy plate with a sprig of fresh mint or chocolate drizzle for garnish. Take your time and savor every bite in a comforting space.

9. Sit in silence and just be – Sit or lay down in a comfortable space in silence to just exist, ponder, and focus on breathing and relaxing. Most people do not take time to themselves to try this exercise, but it is well worth it. Some people meditate during quiet moments like this as well.

10. Watch a movie marathon in your pajamas – Whether you rent movies from the library for free or have a Netflix subscription, a movie marathon in your coziest pajamas does not require much money or effort. This is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon or a day off from work.

Mary Harris is the Co-Owner of Heaven & Earth, LLC, a small company that creates natural homemade soaps and other natural products for mind, body and spirit. Mary is also a college professor at Monmouth University and is currently studying holistic nutrition and wellness. Mary resides in Bayville with her husband and three dogs. For more tips on living simply, sustainably, and healthfully, visit her blog.

Budgeting Seminar Summary – How to Organize Your Finances

Posted on March 14, 2012 by M2 The Agency

We recently held a seminar on How to Organize Your Finances in 4 Easy Steps. Attendees were taught about the importance of creating and sticking to a budget or spending plan that you decide upon to track what you earn, spend, and save.

The seminar began with educating attendees about the “grandparent method” of budgeting – in the past our grandparents typically budgeted by placing cash in various envelopes labeled by bill name. For example, when money was needed for groceries, it was taken from the grocery envelope. Today it’s a little bit different— we live in a typically cashless society where plastic cards and automatic or online bill payments are virtually the norm. However, attendees were shown how the grandparent budgeting method can easily be applied to today’s digital world.

The seminar emphasized the significance of creating a plan of what you think you’ll spend for the month at the beginning of the month – and tracking it on your computer in an Excel spreadsheet, or by using a budgeting program such as Microsoft Money, online banking, or an app on your mobile phone.

Regardless of the method you choose to create your budget, you should enter your recurring or fixed monthly expenses first, including: mortgage/rent; monthly utilities; and any debts such as auto loans, student loans, or credit card. Next, enter your flexible expenses, or things you have control over – such as: entertainment, food, clothing, and household expenses. Seminar attendees were given a budgeting worksheet to use, and shown how to manage their expenses and input their income regardless of whether they were planning for just themselves, a couple, or a family budget.

While budgeting might be “scary” for some, don’t be afraid to have fun with your budget! Make a game of saving your money, and paying your bills. People are afraid of money – especially of not having it. By creating an organized plan for your lifestyle, you won’t ever need to be afraid of not having money again.

Stay tuned for upcoming monthly consumer seminars! Enter your email in the subscribe box — located at the top right of this blog — to subscribe to seminar previews and more from First Scoop.

5 Ways to Save Money on Gas This Summer

Posted on June 30, 2011 by M2 The Agency

Tips from Allen Gottfried, Director of Online Marketing at MB Motorsports

1. Keep your car properly maintained — (Correct Tire Pressure and a Clean Air Filter are great places to start).

2. Keep excess weight out of the car. Extra weight such as a full trunk with clothes in it or anything that makes the car heavier will decrease your mileage. (Looks like it’s time to clear out those beach chairs and that gym bag!)

3. Ease up on the acceleration. Sure you might beat the guy in the other lane off the line but quick acceleration will drastically decrease mileage – the same goes when you are passing someone.

4. Opening a window vs. putting the air conditioner on will cost you about the same. When you open the windows, the air goes in the car which creates drag which will ultimately reduce mileage. If even a percent difference, the difference in cost between putting the air conditioner on vs. opening a window is really next to nothing. You might as well be comfortable with the air conditioner on!

5. For pick-up truck drivers: To get better gas mileage, despite what you believe, don’t put the gate down – keep it up. Having the gate up creates better air flow as seen on an episode of Myth Busters.

MB Motorsports, a preferred car dealer of First Financial, offers quality used vehicles and service. With over combined 75 years in business, their staff knows cars. MB Motorsports is located at 1715 Asbury Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. For more information on their services, visit www.mbmotorsports.com.