Summarize the following:
The ease of paying with credit cards can quickly lead to overextending yourself and getting into too much debt.  If you have a habit of purchasing things with credit when you don’t have the cash to pay for them, your credit card debt will continue to grow.  Soon, your monthly minimum payments may be more than you can afford.  Controlling impulse spending will help you to use credit cards more wisely. Learning how to manage credit, how to strategically pay down balances and how to maximize rewards can reduce your monthly expenses. Your total monthly debt payments, including car payments, student loans and credit cards, should equal no more than 20 percent of your monthly income.  If you are close to that limit, then hold off on new credit purchases until you can pay down some of those other loans.  Failure to manage your level of debt can not only hurt your credit, but it can also hinder your ability to save for things like retirement. For example, if you pay $300 per month on your car payments, $200 per month on student loans and $200 per month on credit card balances, then our total debt payments per month equal $700. In this example, if you make $3,500 per month, then your debt-to-income ratio equals 20 percent ($3,500 x .2 = $700).  If you make less than this per month, then your debt is too high, and you need to reduce your debt before making any more debt purchases. You can get your credit report for free once per year from annualcreditreport.com.  Your total debt and your payment history appears on your credit report. The way you manage your credit affects your credit score.  Also, errors on your credit report can hurt your credit.  Review your credit report often and know whether you need to work on improving your credit score and/or if you need to address errors on your credit report. Familiarize yourself with all of the fees they charge.  Credit card fees include annual fees, charges for balance transfers, cash advance fees and late fees.  Choose a credit card with a fee structure that matches your needs.  For example, if you want to transfer balances from a high-rate card to a card with a lower rate, look for a card that doesn’t charge fees for balance transfers. Your credit card statement tells you how long it will take to pay off your credit card just by paying the minimum monthly balance.  If you have a high balance, this can take many years and cost you thousands in interest expense.  Make a plan to pay as much as possible towards your credit card debt. Don’t sacrifice other long-term financial goals, such as saving for retirement.  But definitely pay more than the minimum balance each month.  While you are paying down your balance, don’t make any purchases on your credit card.

summary: Understand how credit cards can get you into trouble. Manage your debt-to-income ratio. Figure out the total of your monthly debt payments. Check your credit report regularly. Read your credit card policy agreements. Pay off your balances.


Summarize the following:
After being rejected by someone on Facebook, you might benefit from a reminder of what makes you so great. Take a few minutes to list all of your positive traits and read over the list. Include things that you like about yourself and that other people have complimented you on. For example, you might include in the list that you are friendly, kind, funny, smart, pretty, artistic, or something else! Although it’s not a good idea to dwell on feelings of anger about what happened, you might feel better about what happened if you remind yourself that the person who unfriended you was not perfect. Include in the list any traits that you disliked about them, even if you didn’t know them very well. For example, you might list things like pettiness, short temper, annoying laugh, boring, no sense of humor, or bad listener. : Following a rejection is a great time to think about what you value most in your friends. Write down these traits and keep it for reference. This way, you can use the list to help you find people you click with moving forward. For example, you might decide that you value loyalty, kindness, acceptance, and generosity in your friends above all else. Even though it might be hard to see any positives from losing a Facebook friend, there are ways that you can benefit from it. Reflect on the situation and decide what you want to take away from it.  For example, you might use the experience to remind yourself of who your real friends are and be grateful for them. Or, you might consider the experience a good indicator that social media is playing too much of a role in your life.

summary: Make a list of all the positive traits you possess. List all the traits you did not like about the person who unfriended you. Identify traits that you value in your friends. Consider what you might learn from this situation.


Summarize the following:
To keep your brain healthy, you need to keep your body healthy. Regular exercise helps improve critical thinking and memory retention. It also gives your brain a break from work-related thinking, which may help spark creativity.  Take a walk. Exercise does not need to strenuous to engage the brain. A walk for just two miles can help the brain engage in new ideas. The brain benefits from most forms of cardiovascular exercise. Find something that you enjoy enough to do regularly, or create a varied schedule that may include walks, runs, biking, dancing, or workout classes. Aim for at least one hour of cardio at least three times a week. Developing a healthy diet benefits many of your internal organs, including your brain. Eating a balanced diet maximizes your brain function both throughout the day and over the course of your life.  Some studies suggest that food rich in omega-3 fatty acids and flavonoids help improve concentration and fight memory loss. Cold-water fish, leafy greens, nuts, and flaxseed oil are good sources.  Getting sufficient B-vitamins, particularly Folate, B6, and B12 may help slow cognitive impairment. Get folate and B6 from leafy greens and whole grains, and B12 from animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, or dairy.  Broccoli, cabbage, and mustard greens may help prevent and fight neurodegenerative diseases, though further research is needed to confirm their efficacy.  As a general rule, maintaining a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and complete proteins gives your brain all of the power it needs for healthy daily function. Ensuring that you get enough sleep every night may contribute to stronger memory, promote productivity, and improve attention span.  Treat a good night’s sleep like a necessity. Think of it the same way you would think about making sure you are fed or that you have water. Create a bedtime routine to help you prepare for sleep, and stick to it. This may include taking a shower, brushing your teeth, reading for a set period of time, or anything else that helps you feel relaxed and prepared for bed. Keep it consistent. Aim for at least 6 hours of sleep a night. A quality night’s rest is unlikely with fewer than 6 hours of sleep.  Do not oversleep. While sleep is important, oversleeping may also negatively impact memory. Try not to exceed 9 hours a night under regular circumstances.
summary: Get regular exercise. Eat nutrient-rich foods. Get some rest.