drinks

7 Ways Your Bartender Is Ripping You Off

Paul Michael — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 09:00:05 +0000

Let's be clear, most bartenders out there are great. They're professional, they enjoy interacting with customers, and they work incredibly hard. But sometimes you'll come across a bartender who is not giving you what you're paying for. That could be for a number of reasons. He or she may be under orders from the owner to cut corners and save money. The customer could be difficult, or even rude. Or, the bartender is finding ways to pocket cash. Whatever the reason, here are the most common ways your bartender can rip you off.

1. The rim dip

This is a sneaky way to serve you less alcohol than you paid for, by tricking your senses into smelling and tasting a strong drink. The bartender can do this in several ways, but the outcome is the same; the rim of the glass will be dipped in the alcohol of your choice, from vodka or gin, to whiskey or brandy. The easiest method is to have a sponge soaked in alcohol out of sight. You order your drink, the bartender dips the rim of the glass in the sponge, then pours a drink that's very light on alcohol. You don't realize this because you taste and smell alcohol every time you take a sip. If you are watching the bartender closely, and the glass disappears from sight for a few seconds, you could be a victim of the rim dip.

The easiest way to find out is to wipe the rim of the glass thoroughly with a napkin and take another sip. Is it weak? Then you've been had.

2. The long pour

Next time your bartender goes all Tom Cruise in Cocktail'on you, be skeptical. One of the easiest ways to trick you into thinking you're getting more booze than you actually are is the long pour. By pulling the bottle away from the glass and creating a long stream of alcohol, you believe you're getting a healthy shot. But it's an illusion. The amount of alcohol you get is based on the time it takes to come out of the spout, and has nothing to do with the length of the stream. These long pours are done quickly, and therefore cheat you of alcohol. Sometimes the bartender doesn't even realize they are shortchanging you, believing the showmanship is all part of the experience. If you want what you pay for, ask the bartender to cut the theatrics. (See also: 15 Ways to Save Money When Getting Your Drink On)

3. The diluted bottle

To be fair, this is usually a collaboration between the bartender and the owner. But however it happens, it's an easy way to rip off customers in plain sight. The bartender will simply add water to the liquor in the bottle, be it a clear spirit, or something darker. It's only going to be around 10 to 15 percent of the bottle's volume, which makes it very difficult for the average customer to detect. But it's very profitable for the bartender and the owner. However, you see nothing wrong because the pours all look legit.

This is a tough one to catch. The only way to know for sure is to test a neat shot from an open bottle against a neat shot from a bottle that has not yet been touched. And that's not likely to happen in a busy bar scenario.

4. The brand swap

The simplest way to achieve the brand swap is to pour cheap liquor into empty bottles of a more expensive brand. Another way is to apply expensive labels to bottles of a cheaper brand, but this is time-consuming and tricky to pull off. Either way, the result is that you're paying for a higher quality of liquor than you're receiving. With some drinks, it's very difficult to tell, especially with vodka and rum. But if you're a whiskey or bourbon aficionado, you're likely to detect the switch. However, most bars stay away from this one as it's a crime, and can result in fines and the revocation of their liquor license.

5. The light mixer

This is not exactly a rip off, but more a trick to get you to believe that your bartender is giving you strong pours, while also making you finish your drink more quickly. Basically, the bartender will add a little extra ice to the drink, a regular shot of liquor, and a smaller amount of mixer. This has the effect of making you think your bartender just hooked you up with a strong drink, when in fact, you simply got a lower mixer-to-alcohol ratio. You might be inclined to tip your bartender more, you'll finish your drink in less time (and therefore buy more drinks in an hour than you would have), and you'll actually get inebriated more easily. If your drink tastes strong, you can always ask for more mixer to be added. (See also: Bookmark This: How Much to Tip in Almost Every Situation)

6. The liquored-up straw

If you order a drink that naturally comes with a straw, you may be getting scammed. In this illusion, the bartender has a series of containers behind the counter filled with different liquors and straws. The straws become filled with the alcohol. The bartender will then mix your drink with very little alcohol, and add the boozy straw at the end. As you take your first sip, you will get a big hit of alcohol and think that the bartender has hooked you up with a heavy pour. In fact, you got almost no alcohol.

The easiest way to spot this is to sip directly from the glass first. Then, sip from the straw. Notice a big difference? You just got played.

7. The top shelf exchange

You order a drink — let's say a vodka and orange juice — and it arrives. It tastes great. You order a few more. Then you get the bill. Instead of making your screwdriver with a basic vodka brand, the bartender has poured you one of the expensive options, such as Ketel One, Grey Goose, or even Stoli Elit. The markup on these bottles is huge, and instead of paying $7 for your drink, you're suddenly seeing $14 per cocktail.

Very few bartenders go in for this practice. It's a surefire way of losing customers after just one visit. But places that see a lot of tourist traffic, and few repeat customers have been known to pull it. Just make sure you ask for the cheapest brand when you're getting your cocktails. If you're drinking neat, or with a splash of water or ice, then you will probably be asked what brand you desire.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Eat These 6 Foods to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Amanda Gokee — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 10:00:17 +0000

Traveling often means eating foods that are outside of your normal routine, which can be a fun part of any cultural experience. Yet it can also pose a very real challenge when trying to stay healthy. If you're not paying attention, it can be easy to lose track of what you're eating and how much you're eating.

But staying healthy in a foreign place doesn't have to be complicated. Here are six foods (and a drink) you can usually find that will help you stay energized and healthy even when you're away from home.

1. Seasonal Produce

Eating foods that are fresh and locally grown can go a long way toward keeping you healthy on the road. Anything that hasn't been processed and changed from its original form shouldn't have a lot of empty calories or bad-for-you ingredients. Experiment with exotic fruits and vegetables that you can't find back home. It might not be what you're used to, but local fruits and veggies will give you the fiber and vitamins your body needs to function properly.

2. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are one of those trendy superfoods you've surely been hearing about. It's a species of flowering plant in the mint family native to Mexico. Historically, it was a staple of the Mayan and Aztec diets. You can find chia seeds throughout South America.

Chia seeds are low calorie, but packed with energy, protein, and antioxidants. Plus, chia seeds are full of fiber to help you feel full for longer and aid digestion when you're trying lots of new foods.

3. Healthy Grains

There is a wide variety of grains that are extremely beneficial to your health. Look for whole grains when you choose your bread or pasta. Quinoa is full of fiber and protein. Tabbouleh is very common in the Middle East. You may also find couscous, oats, or amaranth, depending on where you go.

4. Chickpeas and Hummus

Chickpeas are relatively easy to find when you're traveling, all across the western world — in India, Africa, throughout the Middle East, and South America. They are very rich in fiber and especially delicious when whipped into a rich hummus dip that you can eat as a dip for vegetables, chips, or as an accompaniment to a salad.

5. Rice

Rice is an excellent carbohydrate that you can find in many parts of the world. But that's not the only reason it makes this list. Varieties of rice like wild rice and brown rice are complex carbohydrates, which helps you feel full longer.

Rice and beans is a very affordable meal that you'll find in many parts of the world and that's because together, these two form a complete protein.

6. Water

Okay, so maybe it doesn't technically qualify as a "food" per se, but drinking water during your travels is arguably the single most important thing you can do to keep your body healthy and your mind clear.

Dehydration is the cause of many of the most common problems that travelers face, like fatigue and headaches. Keeping your body hydrated will do wonders for your health. It can help you aid digestion and keep you feeling energized.

Pay attention to how much water you are drinking every day and bring a reusable water bottle on your trip so you can always have water with you.

By giving your body a balanced mix of healthy foods and plenty of water, you can help ensure that you are feeling good wherever your travels may take you.

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This article is from Amanda Gokee of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

What Booze Teaches Us About Money

Brittany Lyte — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 09:30:29 +0000

Alcohol gets a bad rap for numbing the brain. But as it turns out, there are some positive benefits to responsible indulgence in wine, beer, or whiskey, too. A couple of drinks can increase your creativity, promote better and deeper sleep, and make you feel at ease. And moderate wine consumption can reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and diabetes. Now here's a benefit of alcohol consumption that you maybe haven't heard: A healthy relationship to alcohol can pave the way for improved fiscal health. Yes, we're serious. And we've got the logic to back it up. Here are a few ways in which a little booze can boost your financial literacy.

Wine Teaches Us to Develop a Knack for Value Forecasting

If you've ever been to a wine tasting, you know that the ability to sniff out the complexity of flavors before the stuff ever touches the tongue is a celebrated form of art. Likewise, the ability to forecast a stock's future value based on historical trends, an industry's present-day performance, and the current economic climate is more skill than gamble.

"Once you learn how to give wine a good sniff, you'll begin to develop the ability to isolate flavors — to notice the way they unfold and interact — and, to some degree, assign language to describe them," reads Wine Enthusiast magazine's guide to wine tasting for beginners. "This is exactly what wine professionals — those who make, sell, buy, and write about wine — are able to do."

Sounds a bit like the skills needed to succeed in playing the stock market, doesn't it? Indeed, the methods used in wine selection aren't much different from those used by skilled stock traders and investors. So the next time you go wine tasting or select a bottle of red, think about all of the subtle ways in which you're assessing a wine's taste and value, and remember to apply that same circumspection when maneuvering your personal stock trades and purchases.

Beer Teaches Us the Value of Seeing the Big Picture

It's Friday night. You get home and pour yourself a pint of beer. But no so fast! No matter how eager you are to unwind from the work week, a hasty pour is ill-advised. Pour slowly. This way, you'll avoid the foam.

Why?

Imagine for a moment that the beer in your glass is a publically traded company. For example's sake, let's call it Microsoft. Congratulations, you are officially a Microsoft shareholder. If the beer is Microsoft, then the foam on top represents all of the daily trades that cause Microsoft's stock value to fluctuate. The value of your stock is in constant flux. Up and down and up and down it goes.

As a Microsoft shareholder, you want to know how all of these trades are affecting the value of your shares, right? Not so, according to The Simple Path To Wealth author Jim Collins. When a stock price jolts up high or sinks down low, it's hard to know what to make of it. Even the top day traders struggle to make sense of it all. Is a big daily point loss indicative of real loss in company value? Or is it just a little hiccup — background noise — soon to be forgotten by month's end? Bottom line: It's hard to say.

Now, you want to make smart trades, right? So you're going to want to be able to develop some skill in assessing your stock's real value. That's where the ability to differentiate between all those little hiccups and the real ebb and flow in your stock's value are going to come in handy. If you distract yourself with the background noise — if you crowd your pint glass with foam — you're going to have a hard time zeroing in on what's really going on. And what is really going on? Well, look at your annual shareholder statements. Take a peek at the monthly ones, too. These monthly and yearly value fluctuations show real trends. Not insignificant hiccups, but trends.

Whiskey Teaches Us That the Best Things Take Time

A good whiskey takes years to mature. And, if we're talking high-end whiskey, then it's safe to bet it was left to age in a barrel for 10-20 years. Indeed, the world's oldest whiskey developed its complex, woody flavor over a period of 70 years. If the cask had been popped open and poured out sooner, it simply wouldn't have been as valuable, nor as good.

In whiskey, like in saving for retirement, patience is a virtue. So is an enduring commitment to making small, incremental steps toward a future goal — be it a good spirit or a comfortable golden years era. That's why, in many ways, it can be helpful to think of your long-haul effort to save for retirement as a journey to make a really great whiskey. Set and stick to a realistic savings goal, make smart investments, and live within your means. This stuff isn't easy, and it's certainly not always fun, but there's big payoff to be had for all your efforts. Like when you reach your 60s with a sizable nest egg to show for all your hard work. And when you reach that wonderful day, why not consider celebrating with whiskey? After all, you've earned it.

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This article is from Brittany Lyte of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Ways to Save Money When Getting Your Drink On

Andrea Cannon — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 10:30:09 +0000

Going to the bar can be a fun pastime with your friends and significant other, or a great place to find your next date. However, the costs of going to the bar can add up quickly, which is why we've provided some simple tips to help you save money on a night of bar hopping.

1. Order Simple Drinks

The bar business brings in roughly $24 billion in revenue every year, so the cost of drinks at the bar can really add up over time. As a general rule, the more complicated your drink is, the more expensive it will be.

Ordering complicated drinks on a busy night is never a good idea. When the bartender is busy, they won't have the time (or patience) to make your mixed drink properly. This means that your expensive drink won't taste as good and may even contain less alcohol. In this case, you won't get a good deal and instead should stick with something simple like a rum and coke. If the bartender knows that you're going to order a complicated drink on your second round, they may not be as likely to help you promptly.

2. Choose Beer on Tap or House Liquor

Beer on tap is cheaper than imported beer. Likewise, if you want hard liquor, house liquor will be your most affordable option. If you prefer the more expensive stuff, consider choosing the cheaper stuff later in the night. Once you've had a couple of drinks and are feeling the effects, you probably won't appreciate the expensive stuff anyways.

3. Buy Pitchers of Beer Instead of Shots

Buying shots for everyone can be fun, but your hard-earned money will be gone with just one gulp. Purchasing a pitcher of beer for the table will make you look like a hero and will go a lot further than one shot or one glass of beer per person. According to US News, cocktails and wine can be twice as expensive as beer, so it's better to stick with beer at the bar and wine and cocktails at home.

4. Don't Pay a Cover

Paying a cover charge will just needlessly increase the overall price of the night. It's best to just avoid bars with a cover charge, so you can spend that money on drinks instead.

5. Pay With Cash

People paying with a credit card tend to leave the tab open, and this can quickly make them lose focus on how much they're spending. Instead, use cash so that you are on top of what you're spending all night. You can even set a budget beforehand and bring only that amount of cash with you to help curtail your drinking and spending.

6. Slow Your Roll

Try to drink slowly, so you can drink less. Take smaller sips, have a conversation while you're drinking, or drink more water so that you drink less overall throughout the night.

7. Drink Water in Between

A good way to save money, and ensure that you don't get too drunk too quickly, is to drink ice water in between every alcoholic drink. Liquor can also be very dehydrating, which is one of the causes of a hangover the next morning. By drinking ice water or mineral water between drinks, you also help ensure that you don't feel as bad the next day.

8. Find a Fun Bar

Find a fun bar in your area that offers more than just food and drinks. By choosing a bar that offers something like dancing or trivia, you can take advantage of other fun activities, rather than just devoting the whole night to drinking (and spending money).

9. Pre-Game

Pre-gaming and drinking at home with friends before going out is another great way to save money once you make it to the bar. You also get to hang out with friends beforehand and can even get ready together while enjoying drinks on the cheap at home.

10. Take Advantage of Deals

Many bars offer deals during the week on food and drinks. You can also check sites like Groupon, Living Social, and Yelp Deals to find discounts on food and drinks near you.

11. Go to Happy Hour

A cocktail at the bar can cost anywhere from $10-$15, which can really add up. Happy hour offers the best deals on food and drinks at the bar. Depending on the establishment, happy hour can go into pretty late hours. Some bars even offer late night or early morning happy hours on weekdays. Do a quick online search to see if any bars offer late night specials in your city or town.

12. Eat a Light Meal Beforehand

Eating before you get to the bar might prevent you from paying for food at the bar. On the other hand, you shouldn't eat too much or it will require you to drink more in order to feel the effects of the alcohol, so make sure just to eat something light.

13. Check the Prices

If you're already planning on eating at the bar, then take a look at their menu online. This will allow you to get a better idea of the prices on their food and drinks, so you can have a plan ahead of time. Consider also splitting appetizers with the group, rather than everyone ordering their own meals, which will be more expensive.

14. Go to a Tasting

Many bars offer tastings of beer, wine, or hard liquor like tequila. This will allow you to try and compare different liquors. It's also a fun event and will save you money.

15. Have a Designated Driver

Spending money on a cab or Uber can increase what you spend on your night out. Instead, consider having a designated driver, which can save money and provide a safe solution at the end of the night. If possible, you can also consider taking public transportation home.

How Much Do You Spend?

When you consider that the top 10% of drinkers in America drink an average of 74 drinks per week, you can see how important it is to find ways to save money at the bar. You can also use an Alcohol Spending Calculator to get a better idea of exactly how much you're spending on alcohol per week, month, and year. (See also: Save a Surprising Amount by Quitting These 4 Bad Habits)

Do you have other tips for saving money at the bar? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Don't Waste Your Money on These 6 Workout Snacks

Brittany Lyte — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 10:00:14 +0000

The fitness industry tends to insist that you need all kinds of "fuel" in order to build muscle and get through your workouts. But a lot of workout snacks on the market are processed, pricey, and totally unnecessary. So rather than wasting your money on expensive workout snacks, know which ones to skip, and how to make quality versions at home using real ingredients.

1. Protein Powder Shakes

For the average joe, protein supplements — most often sold as powders that consumers can add to smoothies and shakes — are a royal waste of money. There's mounting evidence that you don't need protein supplementation unless you are a professional-level athlete, or suffering from starvation. All told, these powders offer the average person's body very little benefit.

You do need protein when you exercise, especially if you're trying to build muscle, but the average diet provides all the protein you need. If you're looking for a little extra fuel, try edamame. This soybean is packed with protein, magnesium, fiber, and B vitamins that help the body power up to its full potential.

2. Boxed Coconut Water

Despite claims of "100% coconut water" or "all natural," even the best of boxed coconut water is made from a reconstituted concentrate. To make the product shelf-stable, boxed coconut water makers heat up fresh, raw coconut water and reduce it to a syrup, which they later add water to before packaging. The heating process denatures the beneficial enzymes, stripping not only the beverage's nutritional content, but also much of the flavor.

Instead of the boxed brands, drink real raw coconut water straight from the nut. Low in calories and high in electrolytes, coconut water — the real stuff — is nature's sports drink. It will keep you hydrated and fueled during and after your workout.

3. Individually Packaged Snacks

One-serving snacks, such as pre-packaged health bars, mixed nut assortments, and dried fruit, will often cost you double for the convenient size. Is it really worth paying twice as much money for a bunch of nuts just to get the tidy, but environmentally wasteful packaging? Energy bars in particular are rife with calories — as many as some candy bars. And you can make your own trail mix for far cheaper than the pre-made varieties.

Instead, buy in bulk and use reusable tupperware to cart around one serving at a time.

4. Peanut Butter

Even the "natural" stuff contains add-ins such as glycerin to keep the oil from pooling at the top of the jar, hydrogenated oil for creaminess, or sugar for taste. Very rarely are you getting pure peanut butter — just nuts with, perhaps, a touch of salt — no matter what the label tells you.

Instead of betting on the jarred stuff for your dose of good fats and protein, stick with raw nuts. This way, you know for sure what you're getting. Nuts are high in calories that can help you rev up your energy level when you don't have time for a more substantial meal. A cup of almonds, for example, contains enough fuel to power your body through a five-mile run. It's also a power snack with presidential approval. President Barack Obama reportedly eats exactly seven almonds each night.

5. Gel Packs

Unless you're putting in more than 90 minutes of cardiovascular training each day, you don't need to be slurping up those tiny energy gel packets while you bench press or jog an eight-miler. These sugar-saturated snacks are made to restore depleted glycogen stores. But your glycogen stores aren't actually getting depleted unless you're very athletic.

Instead, go for a fistful of raisins. Research shows that this dried fruit is just as effective at enhancing athletic performance. But, unlike the numerous brands of energy gel packets on the market, they don't run the risk of throwing your blood sugar levels off-balance.

6. Store-Bought Fruit Smoothies

Don't get me wrong, smoothies can be the ultimate workout snack. Just not the kind that's made to be shelf-stable at your local market. These pre-made smoothies are often chock full of added sugars, fats, and preservatives, which means you're getting much less nutritional content as you would if the smoothie were freshly made.

Instead, opt for a homemade fruit smoothie, or simply grab a piece or two of fresh, whole fruit. Citrus fruits such as oranges are chock full of natural sugars capable of boosting your energy to keep you moving. And bananas will give you energy as well as endurance. Studies show that eating a banana before and during prolonged periods of exercise will help your body maintain its peak performance level throughout the workout. This potassium-rich fruit also prevents bone density loss, fights off cramping, and helps keep your muscles functioning normally. And it makes for a great base ingredient in any smoothie.

Any other workout snacks that are a total waste of money? Share with us!

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This article is from Brittany Lyte of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Soda Alternatives That Won't Bust Your Wallet — Or Your Waistline

Ashley Eneriz — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 09:30:30 +0000

One thing that is hard to give up is soda — but for your health, and the health of your wallet, you really should try. Each time you go out to eat, a soda will add about $3 on your bill per person. In 2012, U.S. households spent $850 a year on soft drinks alone.

As far as health disadvantages, drinking soda regularly can increase belly fat, decrease bone strength, and can increase cavities and gum disease. Soda has been linked to diabetes, obesity, cancer, and high blood pressure. Not only are these health issues scary, but they are also very costly to manage. Don't think that switching to diet will help you out either, since diet soda can be even worse for you with its artificial sweeteners.

Kicking your soda habit is the best thing to do for your health and wallet, but that is definitely easier said than done. Here are some frugal ways to satisfy your soda craving without risking your health.

1. Kombucha

If you have never had kombucha, then prepare yourself for a very strong drink. I could not take more than three sips of my first kombucha, but now I actually enjoy certain flavors, like Kevita's Mojita Lime Mint Coconut. Not only can kombucha satisfy your soda craving, but it can also aid in digestion because it is full of healthy bacteria. Kombucha is not the cheapest alternative to soda, unless you make your own. Buy a few when there is a coupon or when there is an iBotta offer.

2. Healthier, Homemade Sprite

You can make your own healthier soda by mixing sparkling water, a squeeze of lemon and lime juice, and stevia (or your favorite sweetener) to taste. In my opinion, it tastes very similar to Sprite, but much more refreshing. Obviously if you are drinking soda all day, every day, you will need to allow your taste buds time to adjust.

3. Other Healthy Soda Recipes

If Sprite is not your favorite soda, then here are a few other mixes to try:

Root beer: Mix sparkling water with a few drops of root beer extract (use organic if you want to avoid chemicals), and sweetener to taste.
Mountain Dew: Mix two cups of sparkling water with one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon of grated ginger, and sweetener to taste. If you enjoy this drink, try increasing the amount of apple cider vinegar over time to increase your health benefits. Apple cider vinegar can help prevent diabetes, lower cholesterol, and give you an extra energy boost.
Cherry-vanilla: Heat two cups of cherry juice with one vanilla bean (split the bean and scrape out the seeds and pod) and one cup of sweetener of your choice (use less for stevia extract).
Strawberry: Blend one cup of strawberries with ¼ cup of honey (or sweetener of your choice). Put two tablespoons of this mixture into a cup and pour sparkling water on top. Use frozen strawberries for a colder drink.

4. Juice and Seltzer

Another easy alternative to soda is mixing one part juice to two parts seltzer water. Use juices that are 100% juice. Pure pomegranate and cherry juice will give your soda an extra health boost.

5. Flavored Sparkling Water to Go

It is not always convenient to make your own soda, especially if you are traveling. Flavored sparkling water will give you the carbonation and sweetness you are craving. My favorite is the coconut flavored La Croix because when it is really cold, it reminds me of a Coke. Check the labels on sparkling water and make sure that the ingredients are only water and flavoring. Avoid any that have sugar or artificial sweeteners in them.

If you need a soda alternative that has caffeine, then the Bai waters are tasty and have as much caffeine as tea. Costco regularly has coupons for Bai water.

6. Green Tea

If you drink soda strictly for caffeine reasons, try going with unsweetened green tea. It will be a big switch on your taste buds at first, but the caffeine from green tea is a little gentler on the system compared to soda and coffee. Green tea is also full of antioxidants and can reduce your cancer risk. The easiest way to get green tea on the go is to pop a tea bag into a water bottle and let it sit for about 20–30 minutes.

7. Spruce Up Your Water

Perhaps you are continually reaching for soda to quench your thirst. Many people will avoid water because they find the taste boring. Try adding fresh cut up fruit or vegetables to make your water have more flavor. Some options to try are cucumbers, strawberries, lemon, lime, oranges, grapefruit, and mint. Mint water can help promote your digestion and reduce inflammation.

Tips to Kick the Soda Habit for Good

When you are trying to kick your soda habit, you don't want to just replace it with another bad habit. For example, if you use five cups of soda to get you through the day, then switching to five cups of coffee is not going to do anything for your budget or health.

The best thing to do is to try to change your taste buds and decrease your cravings. For example, if you drink three cups of soda a day, try replacing one cup with just plain water, and the other two cups with one of the healthier alternatives.

If you are used to having a big cup of soda always at your hand, then put ice water in the same type of cup. You will reach for the water out of habit, and it will take a few days to accept the water as a suitable substitute. Prepare yourself for a few days of withdrawal headaches, knowing that these get worse before they get better.

What are your favorite alternatives to soda?

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This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

12 Frugal New Twists on Classic Lemonade

Marla Walters — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 09:00:05 +0000

I have a photo of myself, at age seven, sitting behind a lemonade stand on our front lawn. I was selling a cup for a nickel. It seems like my parents should have told me to raise the price, but maybe my lemonade-making skills weren't that great, yet.

Lemonade's popularity hasn't waned since my childhood. In fact, we're in the middle of a lemonade renaissance. Creative people have taken a delicious, refreshing drink, and made it better. Here are 12 frugal fix-ups for your favorite summer beverage. (See also: 8 Frugal and Refreshing Popsicles to Make This Summer)

Basic Lemonade

Personally, I think the best lemonade is made with a simple syrup. The syrup eliminates trying to dissolve sugar into your water, and you won't get a grainy texture, or sludge on the bottom of your pitcher.

1. Berry Delicious

Frozen berries — especially raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries — make great "ice cubes" and, when thawed, give a great flavor and an extra treat in a glass of lemonade. Watch for frozen berries to go on sale, as they are often cheaper than fresh.

2. Add a Puree

Don't waste that leftover fruit! Puree a cup of fruit with a tablespoon of water, strain out solids, and add to lemonade for a new taste sensation. Fruits that work particularly well are peaches, watermelon, nectarines, blackberries, and raspberries.

3. Half-and-Half

Substitute some limes for lemons in the recipe above for an even tangier lemonade. For grown-ups, add a shot of vodka or tequila and hit the porch swing.

4. Jam Time

You know that last spoonful of jam or jelly in the jar? Stir it into a glass of lemonade for a little extra pizzazz. You won't be wasting food, and you'll free up space in your fridge!

5. Herbaceous

Toss in a sprig of rosemary or thyme into your glass, or a few mint or basil leaves. Rather than spend money on herbs at the grocery store, start a kitchen herb garden and experiment with flavors.

6. Get a Brazilian

Err lemonade, that is. The goofy thing about this "lemonade" is that it is made with limes. Once you make this, you'll be hooked so watch for sweetened, condensed milk to go on sale. The best prices I have found for it are at big-box stores. Try it with graham crackers and it'll taste just like key lime pie.

7. Coconut-Lavender Lemonade

This is the prettiest lemonade ever. And freeze any leftovers into ice cubes. Coconut water is pricey, so if you live where you can get your hands on fresh coconut, try making your own.

8. Carrot Lemonade

Don't you love carrot juice? Plus, how about getting a little extra vitamins A and C added to your lemonade? This will keep for up to a week in your refrigerator. Buy carrots in bulk — not the baby carrots — to keep this drink on the cheap.

9. Sugar Substitute

I have recently started experimenting with agave nectar, and while I find it to be extremely sweet, it does work in a lemonade like this one. I'd advise starting with a quarter cup, and then taste. You can always add more. This fancy lemonade recipe is particularly nice because it also contains freshly grated ginger. It's a nice drink when you need to replace fluids or have an upset stomach.

10. Spa Treatment

I'm a little tired of cucumbers in water, but in lemonade? Yes, please! Now all I need's a pedicure while I sip one of these cucumber lemonades. Ahhhh.

11. Cran-Lemonade

Add cranberry juice to your lemonade for a pretty drink. I like mine with a ratio of ⅔ lemonade to ⅓ cranberry juice.

12. Green-ade

I dug out my tin of matcha tea powder for this one. Be careful, as it contains caffeine. On hot days, this is nice to sip at the office instead of your a.m. coffee.

Any other yummy frugal lemonade twists? Share with us!

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This article is from Marla Walters of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Go, Tea, Go: The 10 Best Online Tea Merchants

Rebecca Leib — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:24:13 +0000

Calling all tea lovers — not only can you get your earl greys and oolongs online, but you can get virtually hundreds of other delicious teas and exciting tea accessories. These sites make it easy and fun to get your herbal fix. (See also: Why You Should Drink Tea)

Mighty Leaf

There are lots of ways to shop Mighty Leaf, but their bestsellers are a great place to start. This innovative tea company boasts deliciously popular blends including Chamomile Citrus, Ginger Twist, White Orchard, and Organic African Nectar — all starting around $9. Fun collections like the Chocolate Truffle Tea Collection and the Lotus & Camelia Mini Loose Tea Collection — priced at around $30 — make gift ideas easy on you and your wallet. (See also: 25 Useful Gifts)

Adagio Teas

Adagio Teas has all the tea you want, plus cookies and biscuits. Its unique way of price per cup (a cup of Adagio tea's green tea will cost you around 15 cents) and customer ratings make Adagio a particularly smart way to shop for your favorite blends. Try some of their popular teas like the Chai Sampler, the Samurai Sampler, or the Ceylon Sonata, all for a mere 10 cents a cup.

Teavana

Tevana proclaims itself "the heaven of tea" and truly offers shoppers a celestial selection. Get a can of Japanese Green Tea for $34.95, or try some Chai for $10. Teavana's most popular products include gift sets, teapots, and scrumptious specialty teas like Wonderberry Chocolate Truffle Oolong Tea. With store specials, a tea of the month club, and all the information you could ever want on tea, Teavana really is out of this world.

Rishi Tea

Rishi Tea offers high quality organic and Fair Trade Certified loose leaf teas each season, direct from tea gardens the world over! Conveniently organized by tea, gifts, wholesale, teaware, and experience (a.k.a. their lively-written blog), Rishi will meet your needs with an ethical, organic product. Want a sachet of tea or a tin of loose leaves? Not only does Rishi Tea give you variety, but it'll also give you brewing options. (See also: Cheap Ways to Get Your Caffeine Fix)

Capital Teas

With teas and teaware in spades, Capital Teas can supply you with any of your herbal tea needs. Popular teas include the simpler but upscale organic variety: Cream Earl Grey Black ($7), the Capital Breakfast Organic ($7) or the Mexican Mango Chill Mate ($8). Or stick with a variety of green teas, which sell for a reasonable $7 up to a decadent $5.

Tazo

With a sleek web interface and the promise of "blends you've might not imagined," Tazo makes tea shopping exciting. Try their bestsellers, which come in convenient "K Cup Packs": Awake English Breakfast, Zen, Calm, and Chai. In addition, Tazo has iced, brewed, and bottled options. The sleek packaging is almost as delightful as the product itself.

ESP Emporium

ESP Emporium has every tea and everything you may ever need for tea. Choose from a wide selection of tea, honey, dishware, rock sugars, and more at ESP Emporium. Popular items include the Ceylon Lavender/Jasmine Black Tea Blend for $5.95, the Passion/Grapefruit Rubioos tea blend for $5.95, or the Japan Kukicha Toasted Green tea for $11.95. Green tea prices vary from $6.95 to $40. Whatever style or grade of tea you want, Esp Emporium's got it.

Stash Tea

Stash has a fun site with fun search features (you can search teas by region). Their bestsellers include Pumpkin Spice Decaf Black Tea for $5.45, Spice Dragon Red Chai Herbal Tea for $2.50, and Meyer Lemon Herbal Tea for $2.50. Want to go green? Premium green teas can range from $2.50 to an indulgent $200, depending on your tea tastes.

Tealuxe

From "ancient indulgence" to modern sipability, Tealuxe has been creating tea products that reach new heights in quality and innovation. Get your green teas for a mere $6 a tin, with lots of coupons and sales promotions. With an innovative product comes an innovative site — searches, recipes, and easy ordering put the "luxe" in Tealuxe. (See also: Delicious Homemade Tea Recipes)

The Republic of Tea

With a tea blog and lots of delicious tea recipes and blend ideas, The Republic of Tea will make you feel like you're a mad, tea-drinking genius. The Republic of Tea has a strong library of information on tea, but an even stronger dedication to get you the best tea for your brewing needs. At R of T, they have hundreds of green tea products, averaging at about $20 a can. Drink up!

This article is from Rebecca Leib of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Take Advantage of Happy Hour

Ashley Jacobs — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:00:20 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on taking advantage of happy hour, reasons to update your resume regularly, and improving your credit score.

News & Events

Get Rich Slowly's #moolah Tweetchat — Don't miss Get Rich Slowly's #moolah tweetchat at 4pm PST!

Be sure to check out our News & Events Calendar to see all the awesome upcoming events in the personal finance world!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Cheap, Tasty Wines to Get You Through Tax Season

Mikey Rox — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:24:08 +0000

Pen and ink. Siegfried and Roy. Taxes and wine. None of these things can exist without the other.

Yes, folks, it’s that time of year again — time to crunch those numbers and throw back a few glasses of your favorite vintage.

Even if you don’t do your own taxes — I leave my financial fate in the hands of a capable accountant — odds are you’ll want something to take the edge off…especially when you discover the damage.

That’s why I’ve chosen 10 wines — all under $10 — that are guaranteed make this tax season an easier pill to swallow. (See also: 10 Great Wines for Under $10)

1. Lucky Duck Chardonnay

I choose my wine like I choose my elected officials — by how much I like the name and the pleasantness of overall appearance. Granted, that’s probably why I have a hangover and high taxes, but I digress. Lucky Duck wines have a sort of modern design aesthetic (a marketing gimmick targeting young adults; it worked on me), and the Chardonnay, in particular, is decent. With notes of green apple, grapes, and pear, this buttery, somewhat acidic wine from Southeastern Australia retails for about $4 (I’ve seen it as low as $2.97) at Walmart stores (and it's available online too). Cheers!

2. Frontera Cabernet-Merlot

Produced in Central Valley, Chile, this Cabernet Sauvignon (85%)/Merlot (15%) blend is fruity with aromas of chocolate, black plums, and vanilla — perfect for those late nights punching digits into the calculator. A medium body gives way to black cherry flavors, soft tannins, and a pleasing finish. Because this is a hybrid wine, you get the best of both worlds — the character and complexity of a Cab mixed with the elegance of a Merlot. A standard bottle is available for about $5.

3. Cameron Hughes Wine Lot 221 2009 Lodi Zinfandel

This Zinfandel from Cameron Hughes is a bit pricier than the other vintages on this list at $9.90, but that’s still a steal for a 2011 L.A. International Wine Competition gold medal winner. Notes of ripe raspberries and currants invite subtle hints of clove, and cinnamon with a background of sage to make for a wine with a velvety texture that leads to a long structured finish. The deep magenta color signifies dark berries that give the wine some bite and a beautiful density indicative of the quality vineyard from which it was sourced.

4. Twin Vines Vinho Verde 2010

When you drink this white wine, it’s as if spring comes to life in your mouth. Slightly spritzy (who doesn’t like a little fizz), the aromatics of the Twin Vines Vinho Verde 2010 include wisps of lemon, melon, and green apple that seem to dance around on your palate. This vintage from Portugal is an excellent pairing for those light meals on warm days, like salads, chicken, seafood, and spicy dishes. It’s also not bad to celebrate that refund you were hoping for. Sells for around $6.

5. Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

This wine immediately piqued my interest because of the winemaker’s notes — “Strawberry, cherry, and cola aromas and flavors harmoniously flow into the silky and soft palate that culminates into a long velvety finish.” He had me at cherry cola. This blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, and 2% Merlot from Columbia Valley, Washington, boasts a black-plum fruitiness and a rich chocolaty finish. And you can enjoy it for only $8.99 from Wine.com.

6. Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava

After you’ve sent your annual earnings report to Uncle Sam, relax with this refreshing dry sparkling white wine from Spain. Ripe with citrus and apple flavors, the Cristalino Brut Cava is pale and creamy with a robust straw color. If you like bubbly with a tight clean finish, this non-vintage is your best buy at $7.99.

7. Arido Moscato 2011

Set sail for Argentina with this Moscatel that hails from the Mendoza region. Yellowish in color, green aromas of bright apple and pear mingle with roses. Although this white is on the sweeter side, the fruit notes are well balanced by the wine’s soft acidity. The Arido Moscato 2011 is fairly available across the United States thanks to the San Francisco Wine Exchange. You can grab a bottle for $9.99.

8. Evodia Old Vine Grenache 2010

Sourced from Garnacha grapes in the Denominacion de Origen Calatayud, one of Spain’s most promising wine-growing regions, Evoida is the product of a new project. Along with notes of mocha, black cherry, and black raspberry, you’ll taste the earthy minerality resulting from grapes grown in pure schiste soils at a high elevation. Available for $9.29, the Evodia Old Vine Grenache 2010 received 90 points out of a possible 100 (that's an A, y’all) from Wine Enthusiast magazine.

9. Arca Nova Vinho Verde 2010

The nose of this wine is medium to light in intensity with notes of youthful floral, citrus fruits, and freshly cut grass. Its light-bodied, dry, medium-high acidity taste features hints of lemon and green apple with a short-medium finish. With its slight fizz on the tongue, this wine pairs well with seafood and grilled veggies. You can pick it up for $9 at Bottletrocket Wine & Spirit.

10. Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Canchales 2010

Another $9 bottle from Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit, this young, fresh vintage is red, dry, and light-bodied. Berries abound in the nose and mouth; first the scent of strawberries and cherries followed by red fruits and plums that peak in a medium finish. Considering sharing a few glasses over garlic chicken or grilled pork cutlets to say salud and sayonara to another year of paid taxes.

Disclosure: I received free wine samples for review; it’s a dirty job but somebody had to do it.

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Great Wines Under 10 Dollars

Ashley Watson — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:36:13 +0000

You don't have to be a wine connoisseur to know that a $50 bottle of wine is less likely to taste like vinegar than the Two Buck Chuck. But that doesn't mean that every expensive bottle is worth the money, or that you can't buy a decent bottle of wine for less than $10. (See also: Make Bad Wine Better)

Whether you're a Merlot or Chardonnay fan, there are plenty of highly drinkable and food-friendly wines that won't cost you a day's wages. Prices may vary in some areas, but for the most part, these wines are consistently priced for people on a budget.

1. Bloom Riesling 2007 (Germany)

Personally I prefer reds, but if I'm going to drink white, I usually go for a Riesling, and the drier the better. Although slightly sweet, this wine has just the right amount of dryness to balance the fruit flavors. Bring a bottle to your favorite Thai or Vietnamese BYOB restaurant and order the spiciest item on the menu. If you don't like spice, this wine pairs well with turkey or fish, or served chilled on its own.

Average price: $8.99

2. Agua de Piedra Reserva Malbec 2010 (Argentina)

Spicy yet smooth, this Malbec goes well with just about anything. I like to keep a few bottles on hand for those nights I want to relax by the fire, or when I want to share a bottle with friends over appetizers or dessert. The earthy tones and rich tannins are a perfect match for goat cheese, sharp cheddar, or a simple Bruschetta. For the chocolate lover, this is your wine. It's also a nice compliment to meat or pasta dishes.

Average price: $6.99

3. Due Torri Pinot Noir 2009 (Italy)

Don't be fooled by the screw top; this wine can compete with any of its corked counterparts. Dry and soft, this wine loves pesto or a rare steak. It has a velvety texture and an oaky finish that is perfectly balanced and easy going down. Though slightly higher in price, this wine is well worth the money.

Average price: $9.99

4. Luzon Verde 2008 (Spain)

Like the Due Torri Pinot, this red is also oaky, but with some strong fruit flavors to complete the tannins. Hints of cherry and blueberry give this wine a distinct earthy flavor at the end. But what I like most about it is the overall peppery character — a perfect match for pasta dishes with tons of garlic. I also like to serve it with olives and strong cheeses. Try it with an herbed goat cheese appetizer or a Kalamata olive tapenade. This vineyard also makes a nice white at around the same price.

Average price: $8.99

5. Recanati Yasmin White 2010 (Israel)

Move over Manischewitz! This Kosher wine is versatile, light, and best of all, affordable. Perfect for Passover or Shabbat dinner, you can enjoy this with the standard food pairings for a white — fish, poultry, and vegetables — or on its own; either way, it is best served chilled. The blend of three different grapes creates a nice balance of fruit and spice. It is a bit on the dry side, and a great choice if you want a Kosher wine that doesn’t taste like syrup. But you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy a great wine at a great price.

Average price: $9.99

6. Ipsum White 2008 (Spain)

I confess — I chose this wine because of the label. I’m a sucker for anything with a bike on it or that pulls off that “European” look, which is why I was pleasantly surprised once I took the first sip. It’s a complex wine that, at first, has a buttery flavor similar to a Chardonnay, and then finishes with hints of apple and pear. It is dry and very food-friendly. I served it with lamb the first time I tried it, but this is a white that can be served with anything. I highly recommend it, even if you don’t prefer whites or dry wines. Although most whites are best served chilled, this one is better if you take it out of the fridge for thirty minutes and serve it closer to room temperature.

Average price: $9.99

7. Lunetta Prosecco Sparkling Wine 2010 (Italy)

If you are looking for a wine to help celebrate a special occasion or something to serve in your mimosa, this moderately priced bubbly is a well-rounded sparkling wine. Refreshing, crisp, and medium dry, it is a delightful substitute for the much higher priced Champagne. You can also serve it with light pasta, appetizers, or seafood. I highly recommend serving it as chilled as possible. As it starts to warm up, it loses its crispness and flavor. Try putting it in the freezer for thirty minutes to an hour before serving, and serve in a chilled glass if possible.

Average price: $7.99

8. Hey Mambo Sultry Red 2008 (California)

This is another versatile red that is both deep in color and flavor. You can taste the pepper almost immediately, and if you let it sit on the tongue for a second, the oak and array of fruits — from raspberry to plum — finish it off. Dry and light, you can serve it with rich desserts, such as cheesecake and dark chocolates, but it is a great food wine because of its balance and complexity. I like it with spicy Italian dishes, but you could serve it with a nice steak or exotic meats, such as venison, goat, or lamb.

Average price: $8.99

9. La Vielle Ferme Blanc — Blended White 2010 (France)

This is also known as “The Chicken Wine,” because of the chicken on the label. You can even find it on Facebook, where it claims that it is one of the best values for a French wine. I would have to agree, and the La Vielle red is a nice wine as well. The blanc is best served with light meat dishes. Try it with seared salmon or tuna, but if you want something different it can also accompany yellowtail or the more moderately priced tilapia. I’ve also served it with creamy pasta and vegetables. It’s really up to you and your taste buds, but you can’t beat that price for a decent French wine.

Average price: $9.99

10. Broke Ass Red Wine 2010 (Argentina)

I’ve saved the best for last, at least the best price. It isn’t as food-friendly as the other wines on the list, but you can certainly serve it with a light meal. If you like reds but not something too oaky or acidic, this wine is a great sipping wine, especially for the price. Starting at five dollars in some stores, this is a great everyday red to have on your rack when you just want to pop a cork and relax. The name says it all.

Average Price: $6.99

This article is from Ashley Watson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Make Your Own Soda

Meg Favreau — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:36:06 +0000

I will admit that I am not a huge soda drinker; most of the time, it makes my teeth hurt. But when I do drink soda, I want it to be worth it. I'd much rather drink a bracing, sinus-opening ginger beer or a fresh carbonated lemonade than some boring old can of Coca-Cola. That's why I love making soda from scratch — I get to control the taste. (See also: 51 Uses for Coca-Cola)

Making soda can be as simple or as complicated of a project as you like. There are hundreds of different recipes for sodas, but as beverages, sodas all have the same basic parts: sweetness, flavor, and carbonation. Thus, directions for making your own soda don't vary as much by soda flavor as they do by how much time and money you want to spend.

This article focuses less on recipes (although it does link to some very good ones) and more on the different ways to approach soda making, so you can decide which way is right for you. Whether you want to make your own ginger beer for a great Dark and Stormy, provide a fun project (and less-sugary treat) for your kids, or just serve a unique drink at your next party, these soda-making techniques will help you out — all you need to do is choose how you want to carbonate and flavor it.

Choose Your Carbonation

How you carbonate your homemade soda will have the biggest effect on the cost and time involved. There are four basic ways to create carbonation.

Mix Your Ingredients With Seltzer

It doesn't get much easier than this. Buy a bottle of plain seltzer and mix it with your desired flavoring ingredients.

Buy a Carbonation Machine

SodaStream offers countertop carbonation machines that inject carbon dioxide (what makes carbonated water carbonated) into still beverages. Their smallest model is just under $80, and depending on how often you purchase seltzer or soda, this could be a money-saver...or it could be one of those underused gadgets that sits on your counter. The company also sells soda flavorings (including for energy drinks!), but you can easily use your own flavoring mixes.

Carbonate With Dry Ice

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide. It can be dangerous to work with, but it can also carbonate a beverage mighty fast. The video below shows you a little bit how it works, and why it can be dangerous:

(link to video)

Let Your Soda Ferment

Ginger beer, root beer, and birch beer are all made like real beer — allowing yeast to create the carbonation. Because of that, these sodas are ever-so-slightly alcoholic, but due to their short fermentation time, the alcohol percentage is very low. I've made ginger beer using champagne yeast (purchased from a home-brew store). It had a milder carbonation than your average soda, but a great ginger kick. There are several sets of instructions online for how to make your own soda using yeast, such as Jeffrey Morgenthaler's ginger beer recipe and CHOW's root beer recipe.

One recommendation I would make, if the aesthetics don't bother you, is to make your soda in used plastic bottles instead of glass ones — it makes it much easier to tell when the fermentation process is complete. If you visit your local home-brew store, they should be able to provide both ingredients and guidance.

Choose Your Flavoring

Just like carbonating, there are several different ways to approach flavoring soda. Depending on how sweet you like your stuff, all of these methods will likely require the addition of sugar as well, which should be added in the form of simple syrup (a mix of water and sugar heated in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves completely) unless the recipe you're using says otherwise.

Fruit Juice

When I was young, my mother would serve me "healthy soda," a 1:1 mix of orange juice and seltzer. The O.J. can easily be replaced with cranberry, apple, or any other fruit juice. You can also add simple syrup for a more traditional soda-like sweetness.

Syrups and Extracts

Readymade extracts are available for common soda flavors like root beer and birch beer, which require several different ingredients to make from scratch. You can also add cola syrup (which, on its own, is supposed to help soothe an upset stomach).

Syrup From Scratch

The difficulty and expensiveness of your syrup depends on how complex of a soda you want to make. Some recipes, like for ginger ale, are relatively simple, while root beer can involve around a dozen different ingredients (many of the more common root beer ingredients are available online from Leeners). Making your own flavoring syrup is a great way to experiment — what happens if you add pear juice to your ginger ale?

If you're trying any of the more advanced methods (such as fermenting your soda or making syrup from scratch), I recommend trying a batch or two using a recipe, but once you get used to it, start experimenting with different flavors.

Have you made your own soda? Do you have a favorite recipe? Share it in the comments.

This article is from Meg Favreau of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Reasons to Drink More Water

Healthy Theory — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:00:10 +0000

It's old news by now that we don't really need to drink eight glasses of water per day. Nobody really knows where the "8 x 8 Rule" originated, and most researchers agree it isn't supported by science. But don't put down that bottle or cup yet; there are still plenty of reasons to keep well hydrated, and water is the best option. (See also: 22 Reasons to Stop Drinking Soda)

1. Water Regulates Body Temperature

Water has "high specific heat," which means it is resistant to changes in temperature, up or down. Body temperature affects the rate of the chemical reactions that keep us going; normal body temperature, which can vary slightly depending on person, mood, or time of day, is the most efficient. When it's hot, we sweat, and the evaporating water on our skins cools us. When it's cold, blood vessels near the skin contract, holding blood and water closer to our cores to provide more insulation and to prevent heat loss.

2. Water Lubricates Our Joints

Most of our joints contain a dense, egg-yolk-like liquid called synovial fluid, which nourishes cartilage, removes waste, reduces friction between cartilage, and acts as a shock absorber. Elsewhere, the fluid in our organs helps them keep their shape because water is resistant to compression.

3. Water Is Essential to Proper Cell Function

Water transports all the sugars, salts, fats, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals our cells need. About two-thirds of our water is found inside our cells, which are mostly microscopic drops of water with dissolved ions of sodium, potassium, and other elements; and larger protein molecules doing this and that. Metabolism, the transformation of food into energy and building blocks, happens in these little drops of water. Afterward, water carries away cell waste and other toxins via the lymphatic system.

4. Water Is Important to Digestion

Digestion begins with the first bite, and water plays a key role throughout, first as enzyme-rich saliva, next as the enzyme-rich mucus covering of our stomach lining, and eventually as the food and enzyme-rich fluid that passes into our intestines.

5. Water Is Critical to Metabolism

Water is the medium within which "metabolic pathways" take place. These step-by-step biochemical reactions transform food into energy and everything else. Hydrolysis is a fundamental metabolic reaction in which complex sugars are broken down into the simpler sugars our cells use by adding hydrogen and oxygen ions taken from molecules of water.

6. Water Can Prevent Hangover Symptoms

Alcoholic beverages cause a net loss of water, as alcohol in the bloodstream triggers the pituitary gland to stop producing a hormone called ADH (or vasopressin). A shortage of ADH in the bloodstream tells the kidneys to start producing urine, and our cells respond by giving up some of their water. Dehydration may be a big factor why a big headache accompanies alcoholic intake. Drink a glass of water along with your evening glass of wine to keep your body water balanced.

7. Water Helps Brain Function

Water comprises as much as 75% of our brain cells (about the same percentage as muscle cells) and researchers have noted that dehydration impairs brain function. The electro-chemical reactions that allow our nerves to send and receive signals also require water to function.

8. Water Has Zero Calories (and May Have Less Than Zero Calories)

A cool glass of water is not the only way to replenish your body's needs, but it's probably the healthiest. Drinks sweetened with sugar are higher in calories, and the diuretic effect of caffeinated beverages (such as many sodas and coffee) means replacement isn't one-to-one. And that cold glass of ice water has another advantage — it can help your body burn more calories. The effect is minimal, just a few calories per glass, and the causes are unclear, but over the course of a year, an extra 1.5 liters of water a day can add up to five pounds of additional weight loss, not counting extra trips to the rest room. Drink up!

Guest Post Blurb:

This is a post by Lars Peterson from our sister blog, Healthy Theory. Visit Healthy Theory for more health tips and news.

This article is from Healthy Theory of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

SIX cool bar tricks that anyone can master.

Paul Michael — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:40:54 +0000

As some of you regular Wise Bread readers know, I’m a big fan of bar tricks, friendly hustles and harmless wagers. Well, as we’re approaching the peak of partying season I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the newest, coolest bar tricks I’ve picked up. And these ones are really easy to learn, even my dear old mom could do them.

I found a site called easybartricks.com quite by accident and I was glued to it for over half an hour. I watched some of these videos over and over again to get the trick down cold.

Remember, no-one likes to be completely conned but these are all just a harmless bit of fun. Do it with your friends and co-workers and then let them in on the trick afterwards. They’ll be just as happy to learn the secret. You don’t even have to do any of these as a bet, they’re also great talking points when the conversation stalls.

What’s more, for you guys (and girls) looking for a way to break the ice with someone who catches your eye, magic tricks and bar bets are a nice easy way to get the conversation started. Enjoy.

1: Bill beneath the bottle (link )
Find out how to remove a bank note from beneath an empty beer bottle with tipping it over.

2: Magnetic Match (link )
How does the match move? The answer is static.

3: The hold & hit coin trick (link )
There are a few ground rules, but the answer is agonizingly simple.

4: The trapped bill (link )
How do you remove the trapped bill with letting the bottles fall? It’s a snap.

5: Lighter below the bottle (link )
Several ways to get the lighter out from under the bottle without letting it fall. Genius.

6: The coin memory bet (link )
My favorite of all, because it seems completely easy but is actually almost impossible in the time.

As always folks, drink responsibly. And don't go drinking and driving, either.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Kicky Drinks Without the Caffeine

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:23:10 +0000

At one point or another, you may find yourself needing to cut caffeine from your diet (or at least scaling way back). While it may initially be a shock to your system to forgo the rush from your favorite coffee variety, I find that it also gets a little boring. As a tribute to all those who have had to do without, I give you 10 drink-worthy options without the jolt.

Decaffeinated Coffee

OK...so this one’s a gimmee. But we are way past the days when decaf came in one flavor. Many gourmet coffee roasters (Boca Java for one) give you just as many decaf options as the regular stuff. They smell and taste great, and you may not miss as much as you think.

Decaffeinated Sodas

Here’s another easy substitute. While they are getting more difficult to find in some areas, many of your most popular colas carry a caffeine-free version. But many will just ask, “Then why bother?”

Italian Sodas

Watch this one for calories, but it is an awesome little drink you can make at home. With sugar-free syrups in all the best flavors (I love hazelnut), you can whip one up with the recipe below:

4 tbsp. flavored syrup (Torani rocks!)
3/4 c. milk (half and half is richer)
Carbonated water (club soda works well)
Crushed ice

Mix the syrup and milk in a tall glass. Add carbonated water and ice until the glass is full. (Don't try mixing the ingredients in any other order or the milk will curdle.)

Milk

I personally am not a milk-lover. But 8 oz. of skim, with a few tablespoons of Ovaltine, goes down smooth and gives me a few extra vitamins and minerals.

Club Soda Spritzers

If you don’t like drinking the stuff straight, you can add a little lime or lemon juice to a glass of club soda over ice. Other great mix-ins include fruit juices and frozen fruit (blueberries, anyone?).

Teas

Hot or cold, tea can be a unique way to drink. Make sure your variety comes in decaf, and you can choose from chai, sweet tea, Chinese teas, green teas, English teas, or make your own using a diffuser and some dried chamomile or lavender.

Vitamins

Yes, you can drink your vitamins. And there are some tasty brands out there that fizz a little when you add them to your water. Loaded with vitamin C and B complexes, you can get a little pick-me-up in a healthy way. (This is perfect for those who are little less than diligent about taking their vitamins.)

Fruit Juice

Remember drinking apple juice with your graham crackers in preschool? Well you can forgo the crackers and just enjoy a nice cold glass of apple, grape, or a blend of fruity goodness! Check your labels to be sure that you aren’t just consuming a bunch of high fructose corn syrup and flavored water. (And if you’re watching calories, add some water and ice to your juice.) Fruit juice counts as a 1/2 to one full serving of fruit, so you are really getting a good deal here.

Vegetable Juice

Nope. I’ve never been a V8 fan, and you’ll never see me drinking Clamato. I will, however, drink those new blends on the market that combine fruit and vegetable juices together. Made with carrot juice for a full serving of vegetables, it’s a sneaky way for me to avoid caffeine AND eat better. (And just like the fruit juice caveat, be sure you are getting 100% juices in your drink.)

Water

Who could forget the water? The healthiest and cheapest choice by far (unless you go bottled), getting your daily water intake will keep you far away from the ticks and pains that can sometimes accompany caffeine withdrawal. Jazz it up with a fresh mint leaf or an orange wedge.

Whether you're ditching the buzz for health reasons, or just feel the need to cut back a little, now is a great time to make the switch to unleaded. Here’s to slowing down and drinking it all in!

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: