Money Tips Network

When I lived in Columbus, Ohio, my favorite spot was a little place called The Blue Danube, familiarly known as "The Dube." In addition to the usual inexpensive bar fare, the menu there offered the Dube Dinner Deluxe which paired a bottle of Dom Perignon with a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches (made with Roquefort cheese) at a cost of $185.

Though I always regarded the Dube Dinner Deluxe as more of a joke than anything else, I've since come to realize that including it on the menu was a savvy marketing strategy on the part of the bar's owners.

Beyond exercise and a good diet, maintaining a healthy active lifestyle also means knowing as much as you can about your body, especially your heart. Having a good heart-rate monitor with you while you perform physical exercises can help you effectively train at the appropriate intensity level while also ensuring that your heart rate stays within a safe range.

A wide variety of heart-rate monitor models are available, each with their own unique features that are ideally suited for certain needs. Wise Bread is here to help find the best one for you with our top five list.

Think what you're eating is what matters most in your diet? Maybe it's what you're washing it all down with that's really the problem. According to statistics compiled by the Harvard School of Public Health, the rising consumption of sugary drinks is a major contributor to obesity in the United States. In fact, for about 25% of Americans, these drinks contribute 200 or more calories to their diet each day. (See also: 22 Reasons to Stop Drinking Soda)

One of the quickest and easiest ways to feel better both mentally and physically is to stand up straight. We've already covered some smart stretches you can do to get your posture more upright and your spine better aligned. But there's more work to do! (See also: 5 Easy Ways to take Better Care of Your Back)

Check out these easy exercises and other methods that will help ease back pain and have you looking and feeling more confident in no time.

1. Wall Test

Budgets are an amazing tool for getting a clear picture of your financial situation and for planning for the future. They make it possible to see, in one overall place, the exact state of your monthly spending. You know where every dime is going. You know why every dime is going there. You can also see exactly where your financial situation is headed if you stick to that budget.

Sarah and I used a very tight budget during the first few years of our financial turnaround. It provided us with a very specific plan for how we should spend our money, how much we could put towards debt every month, and so on. Along with our debt repayment plan, our budget paved the way to debt freedom.

We still budget, but it’s not as tight as it once was. Mostly, we use it as a guideline and as a way to model our expenses and savings into the future.

This article is by staff writer William Cowie.

Retirement, that magic day you’ve had in your sights for decades, is finally coming into view. You may be in your 40s or 50s, and the big day may be next month or in a few years. Whatever your age and whenever the day, the time is coming for the big question:

What do you do now?

I faced that question a few years ago, and I remember it well. My first reaction was terror. This is so final — you can’t turn back the clock and you don’t get any do-overs. (How many times I wished for just one!) All my bad decisions had grown up around me (or not grown, to be more accurate). Now, I was faced with two pretty large questions:

• What income will I live from?
• What will I do with my time?

What will you do in retirement?

If you love trying out the latest in fashion and beauty — and getting them at a discount — then Wantable may be just your thing.

About Wantable

The Milwaukie-based company Wantable matches you with a number of boutique accessories, full-size makeup products, or designer intimates at $40 a box (or $36 a box for a monthly subscription). The contents of the box will be a surprise, but the stylists at Wantable will use a quiz to make sure you love the products you get.

I say it every year, but the summer raced by at lightning speed. It's already mid-August, and many of us are diving deep into back-to-school mode. One of the most important parts of getting ready? Dressing the part. But refreshing your fall wardrobe — whether you're heading into the classroom or not — doesn't need to cost a fortune. In fact, it doesn't need to cost anything at all! (Related: 50 Ways to Update Your Wardrobe On the Cheap)

Here are some tips that will get you looking smart without spending foolishly.

Whether you have teenagers, animals, or a dirty job, you've probably had to deal with less desirable smells in your clothing, bed linens, or furniture. Sometimes those smells come out with an easy run through the washing machine — but what about those nasty smells that linger after a good cleaning? (See also: 25 Essential Tricks for Quick and Easy Cleaning)

Read on to find ways to take the stink out of just about everything.

1. Musty Smells

When clothes, bedding, and coats get that no-so-fresh smelling, it is often due to how the item has been stored. This musty smell can sometimes be removed with a cycle in the washing machine, but when that's not enough, try one of these other two options.