My Reason for Vegan: The China Study

Incisive and compelling! The research surrounding the famed China Study seeks to explore Western dietary knowledge and incidence of chronic disease in an evasive epidemiological study that spans over two decades.

The findings were that people who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease. Also people who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease.

This researched backed by a 20-year partnership of Cornell University, Oxford University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, a survey of diseases and lifestyle factors in rural China and Taiwan, produced more than 8000 statistically significant associations between various dietary factors and disease.

The take home lesson was clear: Change your diet and dramatically reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

I appreciated this book for it’s message-poor health is not in your genes. Your health is on the fork.

The study has inspired me to go on a 30 day vegan challenge. The health of vegetarians vs. vegans was dramatic. The health of vegetarians was similar to the meat eaters. The greatest health benefits were seen with a raw  food vegan diet.

The commonplace occurrence of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and other chronic illnesses on a personal level is enough for me to take control of my health.

The results are startling. Westerners are among the sickest people in the world and our diets are worthy of questioning.  It is quite difficult to really abridge all of my thoughts and the books provactive points into a single post; therefore, I recommend that one either watch The China Study‘s documentary “Forks over Knives” or the documentary via Youtube “A Delicate Balance.”

Credit Blueprint

Congratulations to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes,  I have a favorable credit score as reported to Experian thanks to myfico.com. Now that I have an understanding of my credit score, I think it gives me an idea of how I can continue to boost my score, while giving me options on how steps in the future can potentially play out.

With better credit, you typically have better deals in terms of interest rates on all loans, whether these loans include car loans, a mortgage, or even credit cards.

I am excited to keep moving ahead in my plans to become more financially literate. I cannot say how much I truly am enjoying this Suze Orman book!

I think all young adults need to RUN and get this book! It is completely fantastic! This book is definitely one I am going to keep on my shelf; it has provided me with a great deal of knowledge without being overwhelming and dense. She keeps it interesting.

My next step is learning about how to make investments like money market deposit accounts, high yield savings accounts, etc.

Credit card shopping

From my research, I have learned that credit unions offer the best deals for credit cards. Compared to the credit cards from the banking institutions, credit unions offer a much lower APRs (12.9%-20.9% vs. 6.9%-10.9%), no balance transfer fees, and tons of other great deals.

Suze Orman advises shoppers to look for cards that:
1. Offer a low rate of interest
2. Use the daily average billing (rather than two cycle billing that results in shoppers paying higher interest rates)
3. Does not charge a big annual fee

I think I will apply for a credit card later this week at a local credit union. I have already made sure that the card follows the guidelines mentioned above and that I can have a great credit limit (the higher the credit limit the better because of the credit:debt ratio).

UPDATE

I will apply for a credit card after  a year with my current employer.  I would prefer to be approved, have a better credit limit, and just a more seamless process.

In the meantime, I shall keep up with my current money management rules.

Why I adore tattoos

via http://blog.yanghi.com/post/3614556947

I think tattoos are part cultural and semi autobiographical. Ask someone about their tattoo and that may be a brief autobiography or at least a chapter.

I appreciate art in all forms, and I cannot image why some people may consider it to be declasse’. Certainly some tattoos can really push the envelope, but I still love them.

Even though I have none, I am completely fascinated by them.

Tattoos for me are  like standing before a living art exhibition.

Check out these living exhibitions: http://www.fuckyeahtattoos.tumblr.com

I can make you love me….

I think charm goes a long way. In fact I will venture to say it goes a lot farther than knowledge. The smart guy doesn’t win; it’s the charming one who wins the crowd.

I left my old job, and I know they will miss me. I think that’s always the best way to leave.

I think one of the most important lessons for me last year was to always put on a smiling face for people and leave them with a smile too.

At first it seemed in deceitful. The thought of pretending to be okay when I was not seemed nearly blasphemous. I was always a person who brazenly wore my emotions on my sleeve. I valued that in other people, and I valued people who appreciated tolerated my emotions as people who appreciated honesty.

On the other hand, life’s too short. People do not have the time to sift through the layers of another’s emotions. They have their own problems. There is one shot. It is either they like you, or they do not.

From that realization, I have made a more concerted effort to manage my emotions. In social situations, the need to manage emotions by controlling one’s response is key. At work I always make sure to be on time, be present, warm, willing to learn, helpful, and charming.

That being said….I can make you love me.

We can call it social maneuvering, the art of seduction, or even plain manipulation. Whichever moniker is apropos, you will leave me with a smile.

Credit Cards?!

Everyone needs a FICO score. In order to have a FICO score you must be on the financial map and that’s where credit cards, debt, etc. come into the equation. PROPERLY managing credit cards can create the best case scenarios.

However I had no clue about the variety of credit card options:

1. Secured credit cards- Thanks to my friend Vita, she totally explained to me my options. A secured credit card is a credit card that is secured with a deposit that is equivalent to your credit limit. For instance a secured card with a $500 deposit has the $500 limit.  A secured credit card may sometimes come with higher interest rates and annual fees.

2. Unsecured credit cards- The standard credit card; differs from the secured credit card in that it is not secured with a deposit.

3. Retail credit card- A credit card extended to consumers via a department store.

Getting confused? I was and still am sometimes!

Priorities?
Make sure that whatever type of card I get make sure that the credit card company reports my behavior to which credit bureau. I want my good behavior to be evident in my credit reports.

My concerns? I decided to make a chart….don’t laugh at me.



I don’t think usage matters, but I am going to find out. Being an adult requires a whole lot of planning and research. I think im going re-read this article; it’s a great article about finding viable credit building options.

NEXT POST: THE CREDIT BLUEPRINT

What the heck is my FICO score?!

If you forced me to pick one single bit of advice that would have the biggest impact on turning around your financial situation, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. You have to know the score: your FICO score.
-Suze Orman

A Fico score is a three digit number that determines the interest rate you will pay on your credit cards, car loans, and home mortgage, as well as whether you will be able to get a cell phone or have your application for a rental apartment accepted. Everyone has 3 unique FICO scores from 3 different credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion).

So…I payed $19.95 on myfico to get my FICO score from Experian. I did not bother to get all of my scores, because I am just checking it. If I were applying for a mortgage, I would definitely check ALL my scores, to know which credit agency the bank/lender checks for my credit score. My number was favorable, but I still can bump it up some more.

Now that is the dilemma!

Everyone needs some amount of controlled debt to have credit. The best way to establish credit is to manage a credit card properly.

Now I have to decide whether I need to get a secured credit card, an unsecured credit card, or a retail card (Macy’s card, JC Penny’s, etc.).

NEXT POST: SO MANY CREDIT CARDS TO CHOOSE?!