Twitter has grown on me. So much so that I have embraced this social networking site wholeheartedly after initially holding it at arm’s length.

Like so many latecomers (I started using Twitter in earnest in January 2009), I have discovered a certain mystique about Twitter not found elsewhere. Sure, Google Buzz is making a gallant effort to get you to use its service, but I’m not convinced that the Big G has gotten it right. More importantly, fellow Twitter users just don’t seem much convinced of that either.

Lots of people write guides about Twitter in an attempt to prove some point about it. In my experience many of these tips are good, but they should be taken with a grain of salt—what works well with one user doesn’t always hold true for another one.

I’ve also discovered what may have been “tried and true” about Twitter months ago may not be so today. Therefore, always look at the date when an article was published; check to see if has been updated to reflect current information.

To that end, I’ve developed a short list of five commonly held Twitter beliefs and have tested them to see if they are hold true. Keep in mind these results are not scientific and only reflect my experiences. However, they may also cause you to do some testing of your own. In that case I’ve succeeded in helping you not take every Twitter mantra at face value.

Mantra #1 – Twitter trending topics make for great article ideas on your blog.

Fact – Take a look at the trending topics and on most any given day you’ll see Justin Bieber’s name trending. Well, if you write an entertainment blog, you may get some juice by blogging about him. More likely, your post will get lost in a sea of Bierberisms and fail to stand out. Consider NOT using Twitter trends for your story ideas.

Mantra #2 – The more followers, the better.

Fact – I can see where having a lot of followers can help you sell your brand. Trouble is, mostly all of the supposed power players on Twitter acquired these same followers en masse and have no idea who these people are. Mass following may work for Oprah, but I don’t see any evidence that anything other than a steady, but comparatively slow growth in the number of followers makes much a difference for anyone.

Mantra #3 – Abandon blogging for social networking, particularly Twitter and Facebook.

Fact – I actually like it when one of my competitors decides to leave the blogosphere in a quest to dominate social networking. That means I can go after their former advertisers for that part of the business! Facebook and Twitter may bring you the business, but now you’re wholly reliant on the success of someone else’s business model. I’m keeping my blogs and I’m using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, StumbleUpon and a handful of other sites as part of a united package.

Mantra #4 – Automated messages rock.

Fact – Actually, automated messages roll: they roll right past me. I hate them, I find them intensely impersonal and I see no value in sending a canned message out on what is supposed to be a “social” site.

Mantra #5 – Twitter must be used every single day.

Fact – This mantra can be a difficult one to refute especially if you have found a way to profit from Twitter as you would if you had a storefront and invited customers in every day. For some users, always being “open for business” is important, but for the vast majority of users there isn’t any need to be tethered to Twitter. Use is frequently or use it on occasion; just don’t go more than 30 days without tweeting otherwise I will cull through my list and remove you!

That’s it – a healthy list of five unhealthy mantras. I’m sure someone will dispute at least one of my points, but that is to be expected. Something could be a personal mantra, but that doesn’t mean it holds true for the entire Twitter community.

Today’s housing market is a tough one, but that doesn’t mean you can wait it out by not putting your home on the market. Sometimes a job change forces people to move while others prefer to downsize (or upsize) or simply relieve themselves of the responsibility of home ownership.

Never list a home for sale if it looks anything like this one.

If you want to move your home fast then there are some things you can do to help woo buyers, make a deal and move on with your life:

1. Price it right – This one should be obvious but some homeowners haven’t taken into consideration the latest local home values when determining their asking price. Study neighborhood price comparables (comps) and take into consideration the number of foreclosures in your area when setting your price. Then, set it slightly below what it might fetch.

2. Fix big problems – If there are glaring problems with your home, namely a faulty furnace, leaking pool or rotten roof, those items must be fixed before you list your home for sale. Otherwise, your home will not sell in this market.

3. Tend to the little things – Big things can stop a sale, while little things can make your home sell faster. Clean the carpet, paint the front door, trim bushes, clean out the gutters, straighten up the yard and take care of anything that may detract from your home’s visual appeal. Think curb appeal.

4. Declutter, please – Get rid of or hide excess furniture and make your home as open and uncluttered as possible.

5. Find a good agent – If you’re planning to work with a real estate agent, find someone who excels as what she does. Consider offering an incentive if they find the right buyer for you in a short period.

6. Market smartly – No home marketed today should be marketed without harnessing the web. Make sure that your home is listed on MLS, but also on Craigslist and easily found on local forums and other popular home selling sites.

7. Stay away – When buyers come knocking, you want to be out of the house. Importantly, your home needs to be extra clean. A dirty home is an undesirable home; keep it looking great at all times.

Will your home sell quickly? It might if you are aggressive with its price and realistic. Plan smartly or risk having your home languish on the market for many months.

Adv. — Just a few weeks remain before the federal homebuyer tax credit is set to expire. Consider buying now in order to take advantage of a special opportunity. For related lending tools, please stop over to SayLending.com today!

Thousands of new homeowners will be undertaking fresh projects for the first time as warmer weather begins to settle in over the coming weeks. That means people who purchased and moved in to their new homes since late last year will soon discover how much work is required to whip their lawns into shape.

Yes, the term “home ownership” is about to take on its true definition: the tethering of people to their lawns from early spring to late fall.

Fortunately, things don’t have to be so gloomy when it comes to lawn maintenance. Nor do new homeowners, who are getting used to making big monthly mortgage payments, need to overspend in order to bring up their yards.

What do you need for your lawn? How much money do you think that you will need to spend? Sure, you could buy everything new and find yourself struggling the following month to piece together enough funds for your mortgage payment. Or, you could consider some other sources for lawn equipment as well as putting off the purchase of “nice to have” but unneeded equipment until another time.

To that end, the following are some tips on how you can find lawn care equipment for less:

Yard Sales – Soon after the first daffodils pop up, expect someone in your neighborhood to hang out a garage or yard sale sign early on a Saturday morning. If you hit it right, you may be able to find some of the stuff you need to care for you yard such as a lawn mower, leaf blower, rakes, shovels or seed spreader. Sure, spending $350 on a shiny Honda mower at Lowe’s seems appealing, but if you can find a well tuned Toro mower for under $50, then you’ve just saved yourself a nice wad of cash.

Consignment Shops – Not every consignment shop welcome lawn equipment because not everyone wants to deal with leaking oil from a lawn mower or residual chemicals from a spreader. Nevertheless, if you have such a shop in your area and they accept lawn equipment, plan on staking the place out. Give them a call to find out when their donation acceptance days are and plan on showing up as soon as they put their latest donations out for customer display. Paying $10 or less for a leaf blower or finding rakes, shovels and picks priced from a few dollars each can make you feel that you are a lotto winner.

Web Ads – Craigslist offers a nice selection of stuff for sale and is light years better than eBay thanks to local listings. Sure, you can find some great finds on eBay, but you can’t check these items out in person before having them shipped to your home. Besides, who wants to pay for shipping for a hoe, mower or other heavy duty item. Check the online ad sites to find bargains locally.

Discount Stores – Sometimes you just have to buy new. In fact, please buy new if your grass is more than a foot tall and you still don’t have a lawn mower. There are discount stores who sell new or what amounts to be last year’s lawn mower model. Hit or miss when it comes to finding what you want, stores such as Ollie’s and Odd Lot may have what you want for significantly less that what you would pay the hardware store. You’ll still get new but you won’t get hosed. Speaking of hoses, you can usually find good deals at these types of stores too.

Lastly, do you really need an edger and can’t you borrow hedge clippers from a neighbor? With a little planning on your part, you can do realize a lot of saving—perhaps enough cash saved to buy a new bird bath, swing set, outdoor furniture, shed….

Adv. — Save money on just about everything! You can lower your bills and manage your finances, while taking control of your family expenses. Please see our wonderful budget management online tools — free too!

Photo Credit: Nadya Yasnogorodskaya

The decennial census is about to get underway as the first batch of questionnaires began to arrive in mailboxes across the country on Monday. This constitutionally mandated population count is being conducted for just the 23rd time, dating back to 1790 when the first count was held.

Census Return

Americans have until mid-April to complete and return their ten question postage paid forms to the US Census Bureau. The census helps the federal government tabulate the number of Americans, ensuring that Congress is fairly reapportioned every ten years. In other words, the census is an important piece of the representative democracy puzzle.

“When you receive your 2010 Census, please fill it out and mail it back,” Census Bureau Director Robert M. Groves said. “It’s one of the shortest forms in our lifetime with just 10 questions very much like the questions James Madison and Thomas Jefferson helped craft on the very first Census.”

Accurate Count

Getting an accurate count is impossible while getting close to that number is. Nevertheless, Americans can help out by returning their forms as soon as possible, helping the government avoid the expense of sending out a federal worker to ensure the form has been completed. Failure to complete the form or supplying wrong information are criminal acts, in some cases leading to fines and/or imprisonment. No other federal agency has access to the data, thus your privacy is ensured.

The census mailing package includes a cover letter, the 2010 Census form and a postage-paid return envelope. According to the census bureau the 10 questions are basic and should take about 10 minutes to complete. The 2010 Census asks the following questions:

1. The number of people living in the residence
2. Any additional people that might be living there as of April 1, 2010
3. Whether the residence is owned or rented
4. Telephone number (in case the Census Bureau has follow-up questions)
5. Name
6. Sex
7. Age and date of birth
8. Whether of Hispanic origin
9. Race
10.Whether that person sometimes lives somewhere else

Additional Languages

For the first time some 13 million bilingual English/Spanish forms will be sent out to households whose primary language is Spanish. In addition, forms are available in other languages upon request: English, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Vietnamese and Russian. Language assistance guides are available in 59 languages with special assistance offered for the hearing impaired and the blind.

Adv.– If you are considering selling your business in 2010, you need to determine its value first, which is based largely on what someone is willing to pay for it. If you are interested in buying a business, please check out NACBB’s current business listings to find one for you.

Passenger vehicles have been made for more than a century now and over that time cars have changed dramatically. Much of the advice given years ago has changed too including how often you should change your oil (3000 miles no longer applies) or warming up your car for five minutes before heading out.

Today’s Engineering

Once considered “tried and true” automotive advice, much of what we once believed is no longer relevant and could be costing you money. 21st century engineering has changed the way we maintain and drive our cars so let’s take a look at 5 myths as well as 5 money savings truths courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.

What sort of myths do you believe?

MYTH: Cars need oil changes every three months or 3,000 miles.

False: That used to be true, but not with newer cars. Because of synthetic oils that don’t break down as quickly, consumers actually don’t need oil changes as often – more like every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. (There may be two recommendations for oil-change intervals: one for normal driving and one for hard use. Check your maintenance guide to be sure.)

SAVE: Either way, there’s a considerable savings here: Let’s say you’re an average consumer who drives 12,000 miles a year, which means you would need about four oil changes a year under the old formula. With the new extended mileage, consumers need only about two oil changes a year, cutting their bill for oil changes in half – you could pocket upward of $50 a year or $650 in the lifetime of your car and do something to help the environment by saving oil.

MYTH: You need to let your vehicle engine warm up in cold weather.

False: Your vehicle’s engine only needs a warm-up period of about 10 seconds – you’re actually the only one who may feel chilly. The engine warms up while you drive. Running your car any longer beforehand is just a waste of gas.

SAVE: Depending on engine size, temperature and other variables, modern cars can use about a third of a gallon of gas per hour while idling. By giving up that 10-minute idle every weekday morning, you could save more than a gallon a month – $32 a year or $416 over the life of the vehicle.

MYTH: Premium gas is a treat for your car.

False: Unless your vehicle is specifically tailored to take advantage of the higher octane level in the fuel, you’re wasting your money. Go by what is recommended in your owner’s manual and leave it at that.

SAVE: At current gas prices, drivers may save up to $150 a year by opting for unleaded gas instead of premium.

MYTH: The number listed on the sidewall of your tire is the recommended tire pressure.

False: In most cases, this is actually the maximum pressure allowed for that tire. The recommended amount of pressure is usually listed on the inside door panel – check your owner’s manual to be sure.

SAVE: The government estimates that the average driver’s tires are underinflated by 26 percent. Generally, underinflated treads lower gas mileage about a half percent for each pound lacking when the pressure of all four tires is added up. An average driver with underinflated tires could add $79 a year to his or her fuel bill – or more than $1,027 in the lifetime of the vehicle. You could also save nearly half a barrel of crude oil per year by keeping your tires inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended level. Per the EPA, one barrel of crude oil equals 42 gallons of gasoline.

MYTH: Buy gas in the morning and you’ll save money.

False: The old adage was to fill up in the morning when gas was coolest and most dense because gas is sold by volume and you would get more gas for your buck.

But gas is sold in underground, nonmetallic tanks that typically hold about 10,000 gallons, and it will take a lot of sunlight to raise the temperature even a degree. (However, pumping your gas when it’s cooler does mean less release of vapors, which is better for the environment.)

SAVE: Do your research before buying. Ford’s SIRIUS Travel Link™ sorts gas stations by price on the navigation screen, but Web sites like MSNAutos.com can also help drivers navigate to bargains. In our quick research, we found two gas stations in New York City – less than a mile apart – with 30 cents per gallon price difference. If you know before you go and fill up for less every time, it could result in $227 in your pocket annually, or $2,951 saved over the lifetime of your car.

Ford Calculations

Ford says that by eradicating these myths drivers could save more than $500 annually or more than $6600 over a twelve year period driving the same car. For their estimation, Ford selected their 2010 Ford Taurus, a full size sedan returning 18 mpg city/28 mpg highway with gas averaging $2.70 per gallon.

Of course, your results will be different depending on the make, model and year of your car as well as miles driven. Check out the EPA fuel economy tabulator for your car’s information.

Photo Credit: Asif Akbar

Luxury car buyers remain in the market, but like the astute consumers many are, value is also important to them. Honda’s Acura line has the right blend of luxury, price and reliability luxury buyers seek, with the TSX sedan offering the perfect entry point to this premium brand.

Based on a slightly shorter version of the platform underpinning the Honda Accord – indeed the Acura TSX is sold as the Accord in Europe – the five-passenger sedan features optimized suspension tuning for superior handling and cornering. A standard 2.4L I4 engine is paired with a six-speed manual or optional five-speed automatic transmission, the latter with paddle shifters for drivers seeking a more engaging experience.

In the cabin, the spacious interior is nicely laid out with easy to read displays, an attractive and sensible center stack, and comes optionally equipped with a navigation screen that pops up on the dashboard. That latter feature is part of an inclusive technology package which includes a voice recognition navigation system, real time traffic and weather, rear view camera and a Zagat Survey guide to help drivers review a local list of fine dining destinations.

Bluetooth connectivity means that a hands free call to a choice restaurant is accomplished via verbal command with the navigation display returning the best route there, adjusting for current traffic delays and detours. Acura claims that three-quarters of TSX buyers choose this package which also includes an upgrade to more supple Milano leather.

Driver and front passenger seating is firm, yet comfortable, offering ample bolstering with memory and heating features included, but lacking the cooling feature found in the RL. Rear seating is tight, even somewhat uncomfortable for six-foot tall passengers, which may move some buyers to the slightly larger and more expensive TL model.

A smooth ride and decent steering may not be enough for the TSX buyer, which is why Acura now offers an optional 3.5L V6 engine, the standard powerplant found in the TL. The V6 offers 280 horsepower, a vast improvement over the I4’s 201 horses. Importantly, there is only a one mpg difference in gas mileage between the two engine choices.

Trunk storage space is just under thirteen cubic feet, just enough room for three or four moderate sized suitcases stacked side by side. Additional storage space can be realize via the 60/40 split folding rear seat.

Like Honda, Acura scores at the top of all crash test ratings as the TSX comes equipped with stability and traction control as well as anti-lock brakes with brake assist. With a beginning price just under $30,000, a nicely equipped Acura TSX can be bought for about $35,000, comparably priced to other entry level luxury sedans.

Adv. – If you’re planning to buy a new car, then you’ll want to get price quotes or find a dealer to arrange for a test drive. You may also want to arrange for your own auto financing which can save you hundreds of dollars on your next car loan.

Spring is here and with the warmer weather comes a surge of homes available for sale. The 2010 market may be tempered a bit with some local markets still working their way through a rash of foreclosures and lower home prices.

That’s all the more reason why you should carefully plan just how you will prepare your home for sale, working on giving it the edge it needs in a touch market.

We’ve scoured our archives and pulled together some tried and true tips to help homeowners get ready including the following smart ideas:

Evaluate your home. Is your home ready to sell or do you need to invest in repairs and updates first? Look inside and out as well as around the yard and decide what needs to be taken care of before you place your home on the market. Don’t expect a dollar for dollar return on your repairs, but do realize that “new stuff” can help your home sell in a tough market. Establish a budget and adhere to it; find ways to keep your costs down while maximizing your return on investment.

Maximize curb appeal. The first thing potential buyers see when they pull up in front of your home is the lawn and your home’s exterior. If both are in good shape then you have acceptable curb appeal. But if there are problems such as peeling paint, a broken gutter, overgrown shrubs or poor lighting, you will need to put those items on your “to do” list. Consider painting the front door, power washing the house, planting fresh flowers, resealing your driveway and patching holes in your lawn.

Enhance inside attraction. Just because your exterior looks great doesn’t mean you’ll get visitors much beyond your threshold if there are glaring problems inside. Your first step is to remove all of your clutter; if you can’t part with a piece of furniture, then store it. Then, take a look at your walls, ceiling and carpeting and flooring and decide if they have a sparkle that would attract buyers. Fix dripping faucets, running toilets and give bathrooms a good cleaning is a start. Clean up and clean out the garage, basement and attic. Work with your real estate agent to stage your home for maximum buyer appeal.

As the weather continues to warm, make sure that you have your lawn under control, check for bug infestation and consider enhancing yard appeal by hanging up a colorful wooden birdhouse or chimes. If you have a patio bring out the summer furniture while also tidying up the woodpile, laying down fresh mulch and planting annuals.

Adv. — Just a few week remain before the federal homebuyer tax credit is set to expire. Barring another extension by Congress, you could miss out on a special opportunity if you are looking to purchase your first home. To review related lending tools, please stop by SayLending.com today!

April 30, 2010 is a date circled in red on the calendars of some home shoppers. That is the last day when prospective home buyers can enter into an agreement to purchase a home in order to enjoy an extra special benefit: a federal home buyer tax credit of as much as $8000.

Tax Credit

Though home buyers still have until the end of June to close on their homes, a binding sales contract must be in hand on April 30 in order to be eligible for the credit. That credit has limitations including a salary cap of $125,000 for single home buyers or $225,000 for married couples filing joint returns.

Even if you already own a home, you may qualify for a $6500 tax credit. In either case the value of your home, which is to be your primary residence, cannot be above $800,000.

Credit Advice

So, are you ready to take the plunge? Not so fast! At least that is the opinion of some credit counselors who are concerned that potential buyers could be pulled into the market thanks to lower home prices and generous tax credit.

“Many people are able to benefit from this tax credit, but that does not always mean buying is a good option for them,” said Lindsay Alston, a credit counselor with CESI Debt Solutions. “You have to look closely at your income to see if the numbers work.”

Alston went on to say that buyers should make sure that their annual costs including mortgage, insurance, association fees, and property taxes should not exceed more than 30 percent of your gross income. That means if you make $40,000 annually than your home related costs should be no higher than $12,000.

Extra Costs

Lots of home buyers fail to consider other expenses related to owning a home including lawn upkeep; replacement of appliances; roofing and gutters; windows and doors; and other maintenance expenses.

“The tax credit is a great incentive for people who are financially in good shape and planning to buy a new home anyway,” said Alston. “But if you don’t think you can make the numbers work without it, you should probably wait and continue to save, even if it means missing out on the tax credit.”

If you aren’t certain that you should buy a home, ask an objective party such as a financial adviser whether your should buy now or pass on the tax credit. Friends, family members, real estate agents and mortgage brokers may encourage you to jump in, but if you aren’t adequately capitalized you can find yourself battling to keep up down the road.

Adv. — Are you looking for tips on how to control your costs, perhaps how to set up a budget? SayLowerBills.com is your one stop resource center designed to help you gain control over all of your expenses. Don’t let a sour economy hold you down — take charge by learning how to save money and use your resources wisely.

Have you had enough of winter yet? I know that I have. And, I don’t even live in an area that gets a lot of snow. Still, chilly days and cold nights are enough to get most of us looking forward to the return of warm weather. Judging by the national weather map there is plenty of warmth spreading across the country. Spring is nearly here!

My neighbors are busy with their lawns and I’m just about finished with my winter clean up, picking up the last of the twigs and leaves in order to see what I have to work with this spring. It isn’t a pretty sight. Bare spots are evident. Weeds are plentiful. Not many signs that grass will win out unless I do something about it. And quick too.

Fortunately, most people welcome yard work this time of year. Few insects to deal with and the heat of late spring and summer is still far away. Importantly, how well you tackle your lawn now will determine whether you’ll be a slave to it later, particularly during the warmest months when you’d rather be looking at green grass instead of fighting it.

5 Steps To Getting Your Lawn Spring Ready:

1. Clean it up. From one end of your property to other, remove all debris that has accumulated throughout the winter months. Pick up sticks, bag leaves, clean up nut shells, throw away trash.

2. Rake it over. Thatch and other debris needs to be removed from your lawn. A tine rake or mower with dethatching blade attachment can do the work for you.

3. Feed your lawn. Now that your lawn has been freed up from all constraints, you’ll want to give it some nutrients in order to help strengthen your lawn’s roots. Time to apply fertilizer to give your lawn its first feed of the season. If you detect crabgrass then make sure that you pick up a combination fertilizer with a pre-emergent to control that problem. Overseed as well.

4. Prepare your mower. Unless your lawn mower has a dethatching blade, you won’t be needing it for a few more weeks. But this is a good time to give your mower a tune up, replacing the oil, filter, spark plug and checking the wires for connectivity. If your blade has dulled get it sharpened. If your mower is on its last legs, consider shopping for a replacement. Reference your lawn mower’s manual before tackling your mower maintenance project.

5. Plan your season. With one eye to the future, what will your lawn need between now and November when it begins to return to its dormant state? If the thought of weekly maintenance has you unnerved, consider turning a portion of your lawn over to a natural area. Birds and wildlife will be grateful and you’ll have a smaller area of lawn to contend with each week. Contact your local cooperative extension office for guidance.

Enjoy the warm weather—your lawn is ready to come back to life, one of the surest signs that a long winter has finally ended.

Adv. — Save money on just about everything! You can lower your bills and manage your finances, while taking control of your family expenses. Please see our wonderful budget management online tools — free too!

Photo Credit: Leonardini