Normally, I write about wight loss topics over at my fitness blog, No. Calories Needed, but today’s resources straddle the line between frugality and fitness, so I thought I would share them here, where they will find a larger audience.  (Just reading the run-on-sentence that I just wrote burned five extra calories!)

3 Free Weight Loss Podcasts That Really Rock - And Keep Me Motivated

(New to the world of podcasting?  Read my article - How To Listen To A Podcast - and introduce yourself to a world of free, on-demand, audio or video.)

Get Fit Pod - The producer, Skip, has broken fitness down into five, easy-to-understand, elements - Diet, Exercise, Knowledge, Music, and Journaling.  Each podcast focus on one of these five elements.  Skip is in the second year of getting fit.  I just love this ‘cast.

Yell At Your Fat - A relatively new podcast, with only five episodes, I’m already a big fan.  Wendy is hilarious, she has an awesome laugh, she makes up songs that rock, and she knows a lot about losing weight.  Do yourself a huge favor - subscribe to this podcast.

The Livin La Vida Low-Carb Show - While I’m not technically following a low-car diet, I am avoiding sugars and starches.  Jimmy has been podcasting for years, but I only just recently found his podcast.  I especially enjoy the archives, where he talks about his own weight loss journey.

2 Videos That Rock -One Is About Running, The Other Is Just For Fun

I really like this video, produced by the folks over at realbuzz, about proper running technique.  I began using this technique last week - and I’m already increasing my running distance by 50%!  Plus, dude has a cool accent.

The next video has nothing to do with fitness or weight loss - except for the fact that when I saw this video, I really, really dug the music in it, produced by Ronald Jenkees, and now I listen to his music during every workout.  Check out the video, and then head over to Amazon Ronald Jenkeesand purchase some of his music.  It rocks!  (Check your speakers before pressing play.  Also, Ronald has a unique look, and outlook, and I just think his music is very cool!)

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From my other sites -

No. Calories Needed - Guess who has lost 14 pounds?!?

99 Changes - Change 21: Time To Wake Up!

No Credit Needed Network - Chart Updates Aplenty.

From around the web -

Green Pastures - Hosts This Week’s Carnival of Debt Reduction

The Digerati Life - Hosts This Week’s Carnival of Personal Finance

Frugal Dad - Remember To Check Your Statements

The Simple Dollar - 25 Best Actions For Saving Money

Paid Twice - Why We Have An Emergency Fund

About the Midnight Meanderings -

The Midnight Meanderings are published two or three times a month and highlight articles I like from across the web as well as the most recent articles from my other sites.

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I’ve just gotten off the phone, after thirty minutes, wih our health insurance company.  It seems that they, for some strange reason, have been filing all of our most recent claims as “out-of-network” instead of “in-network”.  So, instead of charging us 10% for each visit to the doctor, they have been charging us 40%!

Spending thirty minutes on the phone with an insurance company is never pleasant, but, I did manage to find a very competent representative and she quickly explained that the mistake was on “their end” and not “mine”.  Taking the time to review several Explanation Of Benefits from my insurance company and several bills from our doctors proved to be beneficial - to the tune of saving $208.34.

Remember, if you receive a bill for a service, and you don’t understand it, make a phone call.  Do not give up until you find someone who can and will thouroughly explain each and every charge.  Before I hung up the phone, we went through every single claim from 2008, just to make sure that this had not happened earlier in the year.  Thankfully, there were only problems associated with bills submitted in the past two months.

I have already put it on my calendar to call back in a month, just to check in with them.  Hopefully, all issues will have been corrected.

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Christmas is just around the corner.  If you haven’t signed up for Upromise, now is the time!

You’ll earn money for your kids’ college - and it’s free.  Simply sign up at Upromise, register your debit, credit (boo), and grocery store cards, and you’ll start earning.  Your friends and family can also sign up and earn points for your kids.  Also, shop through the Upromise online interface, and you’ll receive even more rewards.

Oh, one more cool thing.  If you don’t want to put the money in a 529 plan for college savings, you can request that Upromise simply cut you a check in the amount of your rewards.  That’s what I do.

If you sign up for Upromise through one of the above affiliate links, I’ll make a few bucks.  Thanks!

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Number 4 - Shop Smart

If you want to save money - and prevent those end-of-the-month how-are-we-gonna-make-it-worries - learn how to shop smart.  Times are tough and money is scarce.  Now is the time to become a conscious consumer.

1. Use lists.  When you go to the grocery store, make a list.  When you prepare for Christmas shopping, make a list.  When you are getting ready to go on vacation, make a list.  Take out a sheet of paper, write what you plan to buy, and when you go shopping, follow the list.
2. Use coupons.  I use coupons at the grocery store - but only for items that I would have bought had I not had any coupons.  Be careful when using coupons, or you will end up buying stuff that you don’t need, just because you have coupons.  Also, be on the lookout for coupons that you can use at restaurants, gas stations, dry cleaners, etc.  If you don’t want to buy the Sunday paper, search eBay.  There you can find coupons for all sorts of items.
3. Use a grocery store price book. If you really want to save money on groceries, you’ll want to stock up on items when they go on sale.  To do that, you’ll want to know rock bottom prices.  Click here to check out my free, printable grocery price book, which will help you track the prices of your favorite grocery store items.
4. Use the internet.  This might sound like a no-brainer, but I know people who spend hours online, and then, when they want to buy something, just head to the nearest Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, or Sears.  Instead, they should first research - products and prices - using the web.  There are literally hundreds of sites which will help you compare prices, evaluate products, and find deals.  Here are my three favorite sites -
   1. Fatwallet - Has lists of great deals, coupons for online purchases, and awesome forums.
      
   2. SalesCircular - See what’s on sale, in stores, at major retailers.
   3. Pricewatch - For those who love technology - and saving a few bucks.
5. Use common sense.  Never make a major purchase without doing some research.  Never buy something that’s not in your budget.  Never buy something that you can’t be proud of owning.  I use the $100-A-Day-Rule, which helps to prevent impulse buying.  Never shop for food on an empty stomach.  Never shop for a new car while your old one is being repaired.  Never buy something just because your neighbor has one.  Choose to be the smartest consumer in your neighborhood.
6. Use cash.  This one might be a little counter-intuitive, but hear me out.  If you were to plan to use cash - and cash only - for the next six months, and promise not to allow yourself a credit card safety net, could you do it?  If the answer is no, then you have a problem.  I’m not saying that living the No Credit Needed life is for everyone, but I am saying that anyone who has his/her financial house in order should be able to live on cash - and cash only - if they chose to.  Many people say that they spend more when they use cash, but that’s only because they allow themselves a credit card safety net.  If you knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that when your cash ran out, that that was it, I’ll be you could learn, very quickly, to be responsible with cash.  (By cash, I mean paper money, checks, or debit cards.  In other words, funds you already have.)

Being a better, smarter shopper will help you keep more of your paycheck.  As times get tough, the days of frivolous spending are over.  It’s time for all of us to buckle down, use our brains, and make smart buying decisions.

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