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Eight Easy Ways to Start Saving Money This Year

Eight Easy Ways to Start Saving Money This Year

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The goal most Americans should be striving for is to put back 20% of their earnings into savings – but research shows that the average American is only saving 5.5% and many save none at all. How can you increase your savings and still maintain the lifestyle you want?

  1. Meal planning is one of the best ways to save money. By creating a plan for your week, shopping according to a strict list, and only allowing yourself to eat out when planned, you can save hundreds of dollars each year. Instead of driving through for fast food three time a week for lunch, brown bag it and treat yourself to one nice meal at a real restaurant twice a month. You’ll enjoy it more, and still save money.
  2. Cut the cable cord and go wireless instead. With even channels like HBO now available a-la carte, there’s no excuse for paying for packages with 50000 channels you never watch. Pick up a Netflix subscription and catch your shows online with an Amazon Fire Stick.
  3. Ditch your single gym membership. Using a ClassPass or picking up classes through discount online programs like Groupon will keep you motivated and let you switch up your workout. You can try cycling, yoga, Pilates, barre, strength training, boot camp, dance and more without multiple memberships.
  4. Host a potluck party instead of going out for drinks with friends. If everyone agrees to BYOB plus a dish, you can all eat, drink, and watch a movie and have just as much fun for a fraction of the price, Take turns hosting.
  5. Travel cheap. Vacationing can be inexpensive when you find a place to stay on Airbnb, Travelmob or Housetrip. You can often find a place that has a kitchen so you can cook instead of eating out, and visit local sights and museums in the locale where you are staying for a vacation that is fun and relaxed.  
  6. Make your own coffee. While visiting coffee shops and dropping $4 to $5 on coffee every day feels fun and special, it adds up tremendously. Invest in a high grade coffee maker and high end thermos, and learn to make your own gourmet coffees.
  7. Stop and wait before you buy. Click and buy options online make it easy to overdo with instant gratification. Imposing a 48 hour stay on any new purchases over a certain $$ amount can let you reconsider if you really need the item.
  8. Use VIP Savings when you do shop. 2BenfitU’s VIP Savings Benefit can let you save money every day on things you would be buying anyway, so don’t miss out on the chance to take advantage of this benefit!

Every time you save money, take the dollar and change amount and deposit it in a savings account, at the end of the year, you’ll be amazed at how much you saved!

12 Savvy Entrepreneur Tips for Businesswomen

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Women make up a massive percentage of small business owners, leaving the oppressive workforce to set their own hours and do what they love. These tips for businesswomen can be invaluable.

  1. Dream big! If you have something in your life that inspires you, figure out how to turn it into a profitable pastime. There is always room in the world for one more passionate woman looking for a way to be her own boss.
  2. Network, network, network. Join women’s business groups, look for meetups in your area, and sign up for conferences that focus on women helping women succeed.
  3. Go social – media! Social media is now one of the fastest growing ways for networking online, and you can expand your reach exponentially when you network with other female entrepreneurs seeking to connect.
  4. Get a mentor. Having someone who has already fought and won the battles ahead of you can be invaluable when it comes time to fight your own. Having a mentor can teach you to learn and grow via constructive criticism.
  5. Be a mentor. You can also learn by teaching, so take another woman under your own wing and share what you have learned. Women helping women creates a culture and environment of strength and happiness.
  6. Learn to delegate. Doing it all yourself is fine at first, but as you grow you have to learn to let go. Surrounding yourself with smart people you can trust and handing off tasks that speak to their individual strengths is the best way to grow your business and not fall apart just as things are taking off.
  7. Use experts for important stuff. Things like accounting and taxes can only get you in trouble when you do it yourself without proper knowledge. 2BenefitU’s Tax Advice Benefit can give you access to experts, so don’t ignore this valuable help.
  8. Find balance. Being a workaholic can leave you depleted and burned out at a critical moment, so make sure you make time for other things outside of work.
  9. Practice self-care. You can’t help anyone else if your own oxygen mask isn’t firmly in place, so take care of your emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs.
  10. Seek inspiration everywhere. Your home life can inspire your work life and vice versa. You can see hope and inspiration in everyone around you and expand your mind. Never stop growing.
  11. Keep searching. There is always something new to learn, to try, to be. Don’t let yourself stagnate. It’s ok if the thing that drove your passion a year ago is something different today. Embrace change as long as there is growth.
  12. Rejoice! There’s nothing quite as amazing as being your own boss, so don’t forget to practice gratitude and joy for your new station in life.

Are you achieving your goals as a businesswoman? Send yourself a bouquet and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done!

What are the Differences Between CT Scan and MRI-

What are the Differences Between a CT Scan and an MRI?

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Ever been told you needed an MRI or a CT scan? Wonder what the difference is? If all you know is that the MRI is the big machine that goes RRR RRRR RRRRR and the CT is the other one, be prepared to learn!

CT Scans

A CT scan or Computed Tomography uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology. It can take the data and create a detailed, cross-sectional image of the body, including tissues, organs or tumors.

  • CT scans are used to get a closer look at the bony structures, soft tissues and organs in your body, to diagnose infections, and to identify masses and tumors or reach the right area during surgery or biopsy. CT scans can also be utilized to study blood vessels, and can be used with contrast in soft tissues.
  • CT scans take diagnostic images quickly; you normally won’t spend more than 5 minutes to take an image. As the scanner has a fast imaging speed, it offers images with high resolution and low motion artifact, or “jitter”.
  • CT scans involves radiation, which is usually the same amount you usually receive from background radiation in 3-5 years. You should not have a CT scan performed if you’re pregnant.
  • CT scans are less expensive than MRIs, are good for patients with claustrophobia (since you don’t have to be in an enclosed space), and are the only option if you have metal in your body.

MRIs

MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging is another diagnostic imaging technique used to produce cross-sectional images of your body. It uses a sophisticated computer and magnetic fields to take high-resolution images of your soft tissues and bones.  

  • MRIs are usually ordered to diagnose abnormalities such as tumors and brain aneurysms. If a CT scan is inconclusive, the next step is often an MRI.  MRIs are less detailed than CT scans, but provide more soft tissue details; useful for brain scans in particular.
  • MRIs generally take an average of about half an hour to take an image, though it can be as quick as 15 minutes or as long as 2 hours. You may be given a calming sedative if you are nervous, or music may be played for you. You have to be perfectly still during the MRI procedure.
  • MRIs don’t involve any ionizing radiation and thus are considered “safer” than CT scans. If contrast dye is used, there is a small risk of allergic reaction, so inform your doctor of any allergies or sensitivities so they can cross check ingredients.
  • Remember to always tell your doctor if you have metal in your body, as this precludes an MRTI. Also remove any metal such as piercings, jewelry, etc before your MRI.

Remember, if you have to have an MRI or a CT scan and the insurance will not cover it, you can use your 2BenefitU Imaging Benefit for deep discounts at participating providers.

9 Tips for Lowering your Medical Bills

9 Tips for Lowering your Medical Bills

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Even with the ACA in place, medical bills can quickly spiral out of control. How can you lower your costs? These tips can help.

  1. If you have a PPO, always double check to ensure that your doctor is in-network. This is particularly important when you receive a referral from your primary care physician, who may not be able to keep every insurance plan committed to memory. Before you leave the office, have them call and ensure the specialist is in-network. Our Health Advocacy Benefit could save you hours by helping check on these potential issues.
  2. Ask about options. If the cost of the treatment prescribed is overwhelming, find out if every test is strictly necessary. If test A could confirm or rule out a problem, perhaps getting it first instead of bundled with test B,C, and D is the smart move. Our Lab Testing and Scans Benefit could also seriously cut down on these costs.
  3. For items which are more expensive to pay your co-pay on, ask what your doctor’s office cash discount price is. You might be surprised at the difference. The Medical Bill Saver Benefit can often save you up to 60% off of services – better than your insurance company!
  4. Speaking of pharmaceutical costs, ask about generics. Sometimes it’s cheaper to pay out of pocket for a generic than to pay the copay for a 2nd or 3rd tier drug. There might even be an OTC option you can use some of your pre-tax health savings account dollars for. Our Discount Pharmacy Card Benefit can provide deep discounts even on generic drugs.
  5. Look at your medical bills. A whopping 9 out of 10 hospital bills have overcharges that are missed by the patient. Ask for an itemized bill and look for errors. Insurance companies incorrectly handle claims as well, so don’t be shy asking for an audit of your bill by your claim manager. Medical Bill Saver can be a lifesaver here, finding savings up to 60%.
  6. Make sure you are up-to-date on what is covered and not covered. You might be surprised that you have unused coverage you could be benefiting from, and you also might discover that there are certain areas you’d do better negotiating on your own for. Better yet, use our Health Advocacy Benefit to negotiate on your behalf and save yourself the hassle!
  7. Talk to your doctor’s office staff and make friends with them. They’ll be more eager to help you watch for errors and to help you with any discounts the office offers if they know you appreciate it – a basket of fruit or a box of homemade cupcakes or muffins can really mean a lot.
  8. Ask about payment schedules if you know a co-pay is going to be hard to manage. Have a number in mind that your budget can bear and go in asking for a slightly lower number so you have wiggle room. Medical Bill Saver can come to the rescue if you need a negotiator.

Obviously, if you have 2BenefitU plan, you can always use the mentioned benefits to help track down areas you are overpaying in and lower your healthcare costs. These are just several of the many money-saving benefits you get when you have a subscription!

Five Simple Ways to Improve your Health and your Wealth!

Five Simple Ways to Improve your Health and your Wealth!

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Are your health and wealth really connected? Yes they are! 2BenefitU has the Health/Wealth Connection Benefit to keep you looped in to all of the latest advice from those in the know, but here are some simple things you can start doing right away to help keep your physical and financial wellness at peak.

  1. Exercise! It doesn’t matter where you start as long as you start. Get a walking or jogging buddy, sign up for a class at the local YMCA, join a gym, and enroll in classes at a boutique fitness center and make some new friends who are also focused on fitness. A cycling class works when you can’t get out of doors, and Pilates is great for a low impact workout that won’t stress your joints.
  2. Pick a bad habit and quit it. This can be something big like smoking or that twice daily triple espresso, or something smaller like that wasted hour every day surfing Facebook. Trade the bad habit for a new one – buy a blender and start trying out healthy smoothies, or spend 15 minutes in meditation daily instead of online.
  3. Change your mindset! Keep a journal and write down three positive things every day – something good you did or that happened to you, something you are presently grateful for, and a goal or dream you are working towards in the future.
  4. Budget for self-care. Everyone needs some extra help, book that weekly massage, spend that hour curled up in a reading nook at the library, and indulge in those healthy organic snacks when you stop by the store.
  5. Start saving. It doesn’t have to be a lot – start with all of your loose change, and work up to a dollar a day, or $20 a week. Eventually your nest egg will be enough to make a tangible difference in your life.

By implementing these five simple steps you both become more aware of your health and your wealth, and you start to safeguard both. Since your health expenses can affect your wealth, it makes sense to stay as fit and healthy as possible – in body, mind, and spirit. Likewise, your wealth can affect your health – both in being able to provide for your needs and reducing stress from worrying about your financial situation.

Finally, take advantage of the Health / Wealth Connection Benefit you get as part of any plan from 2BenefitU. Even if you just add one piece of good advice a week to your life, it will make a huge difference!

Are you a VIP- You should be! Make These VIP Savings Work for you. (1)

Are you a VIP? You should be! Make These VIP Savings Work for You!

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Our parents clipped coupons, but today a pair of scissors and the Sunday paper isn’t enough. We’ve been conditioned to expect savings in all kinds of formats: from the shopper cards we scan at the grocery, pharmacy, and pet shop, to the various membership clubs we belong to, to the deals that pop up on our cell phones in text form or with a handy QR code, we want all the savings we can get!

However, remembering and keeping track of all of our customer rewards, loyalty discounts, and member benefits can be tricky. It can be time consuming and boring to spend hours before each purchase going through all of the different options. Wouldn’t it be great if something were invented to do that for us?

Enter VIP Savings. This benefit combines dozens of sources into one easy to access destination that keeps you up to date on where to find the best savings – whether it’s at your local market, the mall up the highway, a Groupon, or a sale on bulk items you just can’t miss.

With VIP Savings, you never have to settle for full price again! Shop using this functional saver, and you get cash back on all purchases made through a convenient online mall, plus savings of up to 80% when you factor in the promo codes, special member deals, and free shipping offers that are automatically collated for your perusal.

The VIP Savings benefit provides access to savings in many ways:

  • The online mall, with over 3,000 familiar stores participating
  • Cash back every month on your purchases
  • Early alerts for Groupons and other online deals that can be grabbed and downloaded to your phone or other mobile device or printed out for use at local retailers and service providers
  • Free shipping on thousands of items every month
  • Access to special deals and discounts
  • A virtual “coupon clipper” for your favorite stores with a “print now” option
  • … and more.

When you shop like a VIP, you can cut down on time, money, and gas spent driving from store to store and enjoy the benefit of cashback that can be collected every month (for balances of $15 or greater.)

This is one of our customers’ most beloved benefits, as they can often save the cost of monthly membership to our largest benefits package just off this one feature. When you sign up at the $24.95 per month level, you get this benefit plus Teladoc, Pet Care savings, Roadside assistance, Health Advisor and more – it’s a bottomless well of savings for your whole household!

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft (1)

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

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We’ve all heard the horror stories about identity theft – thousands racked up in charges, fraudulent claims, and credit ruined because of a security breach or lapse.  The ID Sanctuary™ Benefit from 2BenefitU provides you with both proactive tools and recovery assistance to quickly respond to an identity or fraud crisis.

What is ID Theft?

ID theft is the misuse of an individual’s personally identifiable information or PII (name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, etc.) An identity thief fraudulently uses another person’s PII to:

  • Obtain goods, services and/or employment
  • Open new accounts for financial gain
  • Hide a real identity

In many cases, victims may not know about the fraud for months or even years.  The PII definition can also include other personal information such a mother’s maiden name, pet names and other bits of information which are commonly used as security questions to gain access to otherwise protected information. 

How does Identity Theft Happen?

Identity thieves can get information from a wide range of sources, including:

  • Dumpster diving for credit card statements, loan applications, and other documents containing names, addresses, account information, and SSNs
  • Stealing mail from unlocked boxes
  • Impersonating a loan officer, employer or landlord to obtain access to credit files
  • Taking advantage of “insider” access to names, addresses, birth dates, and SSN
  • Shoulder surfing when people are using laptops in public places or watching ATM transactions and public phones to capture PINs
  • Hacking into an organization’s database to steal sensitive information

Once they get the information, they use it to obtain all kinds of things such as money, credit cards, medical care, loans, apartment or car rentals, even jobs and more in your name.

How can ID Sanctuary™ Help?

With the ID Sanctuary™ Benefit, you can get immediate, personal attention from a fraud specialist who is armed with the knowledge to help provide assistance including:

  • Unlimited 24/7 restoration assistance in case of a compromised or stolen identity
  • Guidance through the identity restoration process  
  • Document replacement assistance if Social Security cards, birth certificates, passports or driver’s licenses are lost, stolen or destroyed
  • Credit inquiry activity alerts
  • One bureau credit report, credit score and monitoring

You’ll also have access to an online educational resource with new articles, information, tips and best practices to protect against identity theft, and one membership covers you and up to three legal dependents over the age of 18.

With this benefit and over 20 more available from 2BenefitU for $29.95 per month, you’ll rest easy knowing that stealing your identity and getting away with it will be nearly impossible!

Taxes

Taxes, Taxes, and More Taxes – Unraveling the Maze of Forms

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Taxes, Taxes, and More Taxes – Unraveling the Maze of Forms

Taxes are complicated. Even if all you file is a 1040EZ, you can still miss things – and when you own your own business, have kids, own rental property, or need to itemize deductions and claim mileage, things can get extremely frustrating.

Having your taxes done by a guy at the local tax preparer can be risky – on average people who do seasonal tax work only get 2 weeks of training. Having an actual CPA can be cost prohibitive!

If you have questions about your taxes, whether you are doing them yourself or want to verify some info when the work is done by a tax season specialist, the Tax Hotline Benefit from 2BenefitU is there to help make sure you don’t miss a deduction or forget to file a crucial form.

Is the Tax Hotline Safe?

All of your information is kept confidential when you use the Tax Hotline Benefit. When you use this benefit, you simply call using a toll-free number during normal business hours. There are no confusing software programs to navigate – just straight up, on-on-one advice and guidance tailored to your specific needs.

Using this tax prep, planning, and advice hotline staffed by actual IRS certified personnel means that all tax and financial advice is backed by a $1 million liability policy. Tax Hotline will also review any notice or letter issued by the IRS and provide professional advice on how to understand and solve the matter, even for members who get audited. The experts will review the IRS audit notification, and help sort out the facts.

The Tax Hotline provides:

  • Free tax return preparation for 1040EZ, 1040A and 1040 households, and review of last year’s return (limit one per household)
  • Free tax return preparation assistance and year-round support from actual tax experts
  • Advice with tax planning and audit assistance to help you avoid mistakes, penalties and interest
  • Services provided by tax attorneys, financial analysts, CPA’s, former auditors and/or Enrolled Agents certified by the IRS
  • Unlimited advice on federal taxes
  • Discounts on other tax forms and schedules
  • A member portal with tax tips, tax law changes, advice and more

Members with this benefit may ask questions covering any aspect of U.S. tax law:

  • Should I open a ROTH IRA?
  • How does the capital gains tax work?
  • Is the money I inherited taxable?
  • Which tax form do I file?
  • Is my Social Security or retirement taxable?
  • Do I get a break for child care expenses?
  • Should I itemize deductions?
  • Which deductions can I take if I have a home-based business?

Your year-end tax preparation can be painless and frustration free with the Tax Hotline Benefit available to you as a 2BenefitU member, along with over 20 other benefit programs for a single monthly fee of just $29.95!

Hear that

Do You Hear That? It’s a Benefit Calling Your Name

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Amazingly, people who need hearing aids often go ten years past the time when they should have gotten them fitted before they give in and acquire their first set. The reasons are many; people associate needing a hearing aid with being “old”, they are too vain for a hearing aid, the cost is prohibitive.

In addition, many doctors don’t start testing hearing in adults until well after they have started suffering hearing loss. This is behind the times – people are losing hearing function at earlier ages than ever due to environmental noise; loud buzzing, screeching, or electronic feedback in the workplace; constant use of earbuds, headphones and Bluetooth devices, and more.

Getting your hearing tested and following up with the hearing aids you need is easy with 2BenefitU’s hearing benefit. When you have this benefit, you get:

  • A free initial hearing screening to help detect signs of hearing loss
  • Up to 35% savings on hearing aids at thousands of provider locations across the country
  • Access to a convenient mail order service where you can save 40 to 60% on over 100 makes of hearing aids, and have them shipped straight to your door.
  • A two year supply of hearing aid batteries
  • A two year warrantee with a one-time replacement  for covered losses and damages
  • Unlimited follow-up care for cleaning and checkups with purchase
  • 100% Service Satisfaction Guarantee during the first 60 days
  • Patient financing options
  • The latest technology in all models, so you can be sure you’re getting the highest quality products available.   

You can use your discount card as many times as needed, for yourself, your spouse, and your legal dependents. Choose your provider from a list of thousands, get your free screenings, and follow up with hearing aids as needed, choosing from six different brands.

Don’t let vanity get in the way of hearing the world in clear surround sound! If your hearing has been damaged or diminished, even if you aren’t a senior citizen, you can take advantage of this benefit and get the crystal clear hearing you deserve.

Like all of our benefits, the hearing aid benefit doesn’t come alone! It’s part of a package with up to 20 other benefits you can use for yourself and your family starting at just $19.95 per month per household.

Alternative Medicine

Frustrated by Lack of Access to Alternative Medicine? Get the Help you Need!

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Alternative medicine is changing the way Americans think about healthcare! While alternative methods can’t cure every condition, they can be extremely helpful with chronic ailments and provide a solid back-up to traditional medicine when needed. For example:

  • Chronic nerve pain can often be reduced and partially managed with alternative medicine when popping pain pills only dampens the issue. Different people react differently, but many find help from massage therapy and acupuncture.
  • Migraines can be mitigated, lessened, and even reduced in occurrence frequency with treatments like aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and acupressure.
  • Back pain can be helped with careful yoga in some cases (make sure your doctor and your class leader are working together for safety)
  • Digestive issues can be helped with nutritional counseling to figure out what your body tolerates and when it needs special coddling.

More and more patients and physicians are choosing to use alternative medicine as a less invasive treatment for a variety of issues, and as a supplementary treatment for major problems that can be treated medically but have numerous side effects.  

With 2BenefitU’s Alternative Medicine benefit, you can save 10 to 30% on treatments such as acupuncture, yoga, massage therapy, aroma therapy, nutritional counseling, and more. It’s easy to use, easy to save and you can choose from among over 43,000 participating providers working in over 40 different specialties nationwide to find a practitioner and a location that’s right for you.

Unlike many benefit programs, you can use this benefit as many times as needed, saving on each appointment as you bring your health into line with your lifestyle. You can try new things at a discounted rate, finding out what works for you and your condition, whether you suffer from constant headaches, live with daily chronic pain in your joints or muscles, are seeking a way to meditate and calm your brain, and more.

Biofeedback for insomnia issues; hypnotherapy to help you lose weight or quit smoking; reflexology to cut down on muscle cramps or other pain, yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates for extra flexibility and better core health are all available.

Don’t give up on the possibilities that alternative medicine may hold just because it’s usually not covered by insurance. Discounts with this special benefit can bring your costs for out-of-pocket treatment down to manageable levels. Start using the alternative medicine benefit today, and start being a healthier, happier you.

The best part of this benefit is it doesn’t come alone. It’s part of a package with up to 20 more amazing benefits starting at just $19.95 a month, helping you stay healthy, grow your wealth, and feel fantastic.