Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Use coupons. Don’t waste money on electricity. Eat at home as often as you can. Learn to say no. Exercise for free. Save money on transportation.

Answer: They can turn everyday items into great deals. Watch for weekly mailings from local stores, online deals, or other discounts on items you regularly buy and truly need. Just be careful not to buy something simply because it's on sale. Be sure you'll really use it. You may also get store wide coupons after spending a certain amount of money at a supermarket or pharmacy. Hang on to those, and use them before they expire. Here are a few tips to save on that monthly electric bill:  Turn off the lights. Leave lights on only in the rooms you’re actually using. Turn off the TV if you’re not watching it. Focus on one thing at a time. Use the TV only if you're actually interested in what's on. Many appliances use a little electricity even if they're not in use. Unplug them when you're not using them. Some electric companies offer off-peak rates. Use appliances like a washing machine or dishwasher during off-peak hours (generally late at night) to save money. Keep the temperature down. Lowering your home's thermostat and wearing extra layers of clothing during the day and using extra blankets at night can save you quite a bit in heating costs. If you really want to save on rent and utilities, consider getting a roommate to share costs. One enormous expense for some people is eating out often. If you make restaurant food an occasional treat (perhaps when you're too tired to cook), you'll save a lot. Don't forego all social engagements and eating out entirely. Just do it once in a while.  There are ways to make eating at home a more exciting and cost-effective option:  If a friend suggests you meet for dinner, offer to cook at home, or say you’d like to meet up for drinks instead. You can be honest about the fact that you want to save money. Make sure there are tasty and varied food options on your weekly at-home menu, so the prospect of eating at home doesn’t fill you with dread. Have a few cheap frozen meals in the freezer. These will be a great go-to option when you’re too tired to cook. Make your own coffee at home. Getting fancy lattes or iced coffees at a coffee shop every day can cost you a bunch. There are better ways to spend that money. Consider gardening. This can be a fun hobby as well as a way to save money on produce. You can have a romantic night in with a bottle of wine and a nice, home-cooked meal. You don’t need to go out and spend $100 or more on a date. One of the easiest ways to live on a tight budget is simply to refuse things that will cost you a lot of money. This doesn’t mean that you have to stop having fun, but it does mean you have to know when it’s best to turn people down. Your friends may want you to go on a weekend vacation with them. Perhaps your significant other wants to exchange fancy Christmas gifts this year.  Get comfortable explaining to people that you’re on a tight budget. Let them know that it’s not personal when you turn them down. You can even suggest a cheaper alternative. You don’t have to say no to absolutely everything. If you’re dying to go to a certain concert, tell your friends about it, but be ready to pass up various other pricey things your friends want to do, too. Lots of people spend money on expensive exercise classes or gym passes that they barely use. Here are some tips for saving money when you exercise:   Go running outside instead of at the gym. If it’s too cold, find an alternate workout you can do indoors. If you love yoga but can’t afford a pass, look into donation-based classes. Many studios have at least one of these classes a week, and you can mix and match while paying for only what you can afford. You can of course practice yoga at home on your own. Invest in a few exercise videos. Although it may cost a few dollars to buy them, you can use them repeatedly at home and avoid the cost of classes. This is a convenient way for self-disciplined people to work out. There are many ways to do this:   Walk or bike instead of driving or taking a bus. If you feel like you have no time to walk or bike, switch out one of your weekly workouts for walking or biking instead. If you do drive, see if you can carpool and have your passenger(s) chip in on gas. Check the gas stations in your neighborhood to see which have the cheapest gas. If you save even ten cents a gallon, it can add up pretty fast. Take public transit. Although you may feel like you’re spending a lot on tickets, you won’t be paying for gas or tolls or car maintenance. Besides, this is a great way to be environmentally sensitive.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Visit your local YMCA and see if its facilities will meet your needs. Decide what membership plan is best for you. Compare and contrast the benefits that come with each membership plans. Fill out an Application for YMCA Membership. Pay your membership fee.

Answer: YMCA staff take prospective members on guided tours of the site and can answer all membership questions. Services vary from one facility to another, so be sure to ask about programs of special interest to you. The YMCA provides flexible membership terms for adults, seniors, and families. Members can upgrade or cancel their plan at any time and also enjoy drop-in privileges with on-site fitness classes.  Full fitness centers with free weights, exercise machines, and the use of stationary bikes, treadmills and stair-steppers are included in all membership plans. Additional amenities include all-day pool access, with the option of swimming lessons, use of the gymnasium, and other activity courts. For members with children, day-care plans, including before (and after) school programs, are available at the YMCA. Specialty programs ranging from CPR instruction to classes on nutrition and emotional well-being are also available at the YMCA. Drop-in privileges allow members to participate in special activities at designated times. Enroll in a basic plan and get access to most of your local YMCA facilities. This is the most commonly chosen membership plan.  Gym members that fall underneath the youth membership category (6-17), the young adult category (18-25) and the adult membership category (26-64) have use of all the facilities and are granted membership rates for appropriate programs. A family/household is considered two adults (26-64) with or without dependent children under the age of 25 that live together in one household. With one adult membership, two more adults can be included in the membership for an additional $10 per person. Other membership categories include single-parent family and senior citizens (ages 65 and up). Standard applications include completing a membership application, a PAR-Q (physical activity readiness questionnaire for ages 15-69), a liability waiver, a member engagement survey, and a monthly payment form (either for a credit card or a checking account).  Photographs will be taken of members at the time of application and fee payment. If you submit your application and fee electronically, pictures will be taken on the first visit.  When you first enroll, bring a valid picture ID and a voided check to set up an automatic monthly bank draft. After you've decided on what membership level is best for you, you can pay your YMCA dues and start using the facilities. There is no contract. All new members must pay a sign-up fee in addition to monthly dues.  YMCA dues can vary but are similar at most locations. Fees are based on the member's age and membership group: young adult (14-28), adult (29-64), senior (65 and older), adult with dependent children, and husband and wife with children. For youth (0-12), rates range between $15-$25. For young adults (18-25), rates range between $30-$55. For adults (26-60), rates range between $55-$70. For seniors (60+), rates range between $50-$55.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Research the group online. Look for one person who is in complete control. Be wary of both small and large organizations. Look for similarities in dress and overall appearance. Stay away from groups that preach about the dangers of ‘outsiders. Push back against pressures to change your beliefs.

Answer:
If you are being asked to join an organization, don’t immediately say, “Yes!” Instead, spend a bit of time online researching the group’s background, history, and any recent mentions. Pay attention to how the group determines membership and whether or not they seem more inclusive or exclusive. Be wary of groups that are relatively unknown or ones that take pride in their secretive status. Local news sites, in particular, may provide solid leads on which cults are currently active in your area. Most cults are organized around the whims and leadership of 1 or 2 central leaders. These leaders are often charismatic and pride themselves on their ability to lure others into the cult. Watch out for leaders who set inflexible rules for the group and dispense severe punishments, too. A leader might also vocally claim to be the leader of the cult organization. Most people assume that a cult needs to be a large organization with many members, usually working under 1 leader. However, many cults are smaller in size and only grow slowly over time. This makes law enforcement authorities less likely to notice them. Cults thrive on uniformity and that extends to how cult members look on a daily basis. Beware if a group demands that all members wear particular clothes. They may also pressure members to cut or dye their hair, so that everyone looks the same. ’ Cult members and their leaders will often act as if they hold the truth and everyone else is less worthy. If you get the feeling that a group that you’re in likes to exclude others, then you may need to give yourself some distance. Some cults even pressure potential members to cut off all ties with close friends and family members. For instance, cult members might tell you that “only they really care about you.” This can be a way to drive you away from your close support network. Cults thrive on conformity and expect their members to think along the same lines. If you express your thoughts about a subject and are met with hostility or pressured to change your mind, then you might be dealing with a cult. For example, a cult leader might say, “You might have a future in our organization if you decide to believe…”