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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!

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.

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!