Champ Money

Are you ready to break free from the chains of Microsoft Office?

Office became the “standard” suite of office applications for good reason, and it remains an excellent product today – providing most users with far more power and features than they’ll ever need or use. But it does come at a cost – which is, ironically, the price.

The free open-source OpenOffice.org has been gaining market share over the years with their MS-Office compatible office suite. And with their recent version 3 release, they’re bound to gain even more.

There is not a compelling reason to throw out your Microsoft Office license and switch over to OpenOffice. But, if it’s time to upgrade, or to purchase a new copy of an office suite, it’s definitely time to take a serious look at OpenOffice. Most people never look back.

Are you facing corporate downsizing? Is your job as secure as it was five years ago? You’re not alone.

Many people are finding themselves with the same uncertainties about their economic future, and more people are turning to retail franchises to take more control of their income.

There’s no doubt, there are dangers in relying on others for your income. While it may be less risky working for someone else, recent times have shown that its not always the case.

There are plenty of signs that consumers aren’t willing to spend large sums of money during this upcoming holiday season. We don’t view this as a bad thing.

When money is tight, gift givers are more likely to spend more time on selecting that perfect gift rather than the first thing that comes to mind. Simple items, such as personalized books for children will be more cherished than a new video game, and for a much longer time.

Thirty years from now, they will still have that book – but the video game would have been tossed aside after a few months.

Maybe it’s because what happens in Vegas, stays in vegas. Or maybe it’s just because it’s such a unique city to visit.

Whatever the reason, Las Vegas remains one of the top destinations for domestic travel within the United States. This doesn’t seem to be waning much even with the state of the economy. Along with many great travel deals to keep interest high, travelers are taking advantage of this inexpensive destination rather than heading out of the country.

Quicken Online is now free.

This is the online version of the ever popular Quicken finance software from Intuit.

Quicken Online was introduced earlier this year, but up until this week there was a monthly subscription fee to use the service. Intuit has removed the fees to bring Quicking inline with the competition, such as Mint.com and others.

You should try a few similar online services to find out what works best for you.

One of the easiest of your vital signs to monitor is also one of the most important – your blood pressure.

A high quality blood pressure monitor can be obtained at a very affordable price, and newer models are easier than ever to use, allowing for quick and accurate blood pressure readings.

Save money on healthcare and save your health at the same time.

Are you taking every precaution with your health? Are you properly maintaining your health and fitness?

With the continually rising costs associated with healthcare, these are logical steps to take.

People are showing greater interest in colon cleanse products for internal health, and many studies support those interests.

Eat right and maintain a healthy diet. Exercise and maintain a strong cardiovascular system. But, don’t neglect the rest of your internal health, especially when it’s so easy and inexpensive to take care of it.

It’s October, but some retailers are already slashing prices to encourage holiday shopping.

Welcome to 2008 friends.

In what’s sure to be a tough holiday season for retialers, several – some very large – retailers are cutting prices more than three months in advance. This is unheard of during the season that carries most retailers for the remainder of the year.

This can be good new for those that have the extra money available for shopping. On the other hand, if money is tight, you’d be much better off passing on the major gift giving, even at discounted prices. Try to be more creative and save even more. Your friends and family will have a greater appreciation of something less material, and more personal, anyhow.

Given the difficult housing market today, many homeowners have begun focusing their energy on improving their current home.

This is a great idea, and even the smallest improvements will benefit the homeowner in the long run. New kitchen faucets, flooring, paint, and bathroom updates are all simple “do it yourself” projects that are inexpensive, and easy to accomplish.

Once the housing market improves, these small updates will make it the home more attractive to potential buyers.

Consumers struggling to lose weight likely have heard about orovo diet pills. If not, they soon will be.

Orovo diet pills have been reported to be safe and quick as a weight loss aid. Dieters considering Orovo should read reviews online to learn more about the product.

If you choose to try Orovo, be sure to check online to find the lowest prices.