With the downturn of the economy, many of us found it difficult to maintain the savings necessary to cover the bills and stay debt-free. Many fingers have been pointed to our lower incomes, yet a 2000 study, “Choice, Chance and Wealth Dispersion at Retirement”, found that the fingers should be turned around and pointed at ourselves, especially when it comes to saving for our retirements. With the right plan, people with the lowest tier of income were able to save more money than those making more than them, only proving a rational point. The result of this study seemed too simple, yet true: spend less than you earn.

Although it looks easy on paper, we can all sympathize that this is not the case. Lower incomes DO place a burden on meeting all expenses, but with some simple changes made in your everday life, you can save up to $12,000 yearly!

1. Rid yourself of unused items within your home- by looking at clothes alone, base your decision to keep/sell on whether you have used this particular item within the past 6 months. If not, hold a garage sale and start reaping the benefits of selling items not often used, or join with a friend and hold a dual-garage sale. The more items that are available, the larger the crowd and the higher potential of selling.

2. Quit smoking- you know it’s a bad habit, so why not stop not only for your health, but for your pocketbook as well? In the state of Iowa, the average pack costs around $4.50. If your smoking habits constitute an entire pack per day, this can amount to over $1,600.00 each year.

3. Reduce the time you spend driving- if available, cut back on personal transportation and rely on public instead. This can cut costs like gas, insurance, and maintenance costs. The Cedar Valley offers the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MET) and their schedule can be found at www.mettransit.org.

4. Buy used clothing- your expenses on clothing can be cut in half by simply shopping at gently-worn clothing stores or auctions.

5. Cut up your credit cards- too often, credit cards are used for large expenses, virtually taking future money out of your pocket. Instead of ending up on a dead-end road and constantly paying back credit, cut all of your credit cards up except one. Use this only for a large emergency, and instead, put aside money for an emergency fund for other large purchases. If you have the patience to wait until you actually have the money for purchases, you could save around $1,000 on interest alone, on an APR of 14.4%.

With the world constantly evolving, Yantis & Associates has decided the time has come to join Facebook. Check out our page by searching Yantis & Associates and help us get our page started by posting comments, reviews, or even discussions if you’d like! We’re excited to be a part of the Facebook community!

“Starting in January of this year, I had the opportunity to join the Yantis team. As an intern, I was given the chance to provide a helping hand to the people who work at this business. It was amazing that even from the very beginning, I was able to see what kind of business Yantis was. They care about each customer, knowing them by name, rather than just another number and they keep a positive attitude throughout the workday, which shines through their reputation. I have learned great things from their reputable business practices and their customer service, allowing for an even greater internship opportunity to be earned. I am proud to be part of a business like this.”

Lindsay Guenther/Cedar Falls, IA/Intern at Yantis & Associates

The summer months provide a great opportunity for outdoor activities, and luckily, the fourth week in June constitutes National Camping Week. This means it’s the perfect time to step away from that television, take some time from work, and create some great memories with family and friends. There are many camping opportunities in the Cedar Valley and throughout the state of Iowa, but it’s important to remember some tips before you venture into the wilderness.

-When it comes to a campsite, place yourself at higher ground. With rain always being a possibility, low areas may accumulate water. Staying higher in elevation will eliminate those wet mornings.

-Wear bright colors and avoid perfumed scents. Mosquitoes and biting flies are attracted to dark articles of clothing, along with the scents of simple soaps, hair products, and colognes.

-The best material to camp in is polypropylene, as it draws moisture away from the body and dries quickly when wet.

-Keep your fire environmentally friendly with the use of biodegradable items- take an empty toilet paper role filled with lint from your clothes dryer. Once your fire has started, never throw plastic plates or containers into the fire, as these will melt and become messy for clean up, not to mention the toxic fumes they produce.

-Always pack an extra pair of socks. Wet socks provide discomfort and may lead to common colds.

-If the weather is windy, throw some leaves up in the air before putting up your tent. Face the entrance flap away from the wind, as to avoid any cold wind chills during the night.

-Before bringing your pet along, check your campsite’s rules as some camping areas do not allow domestic animals. And always clean up after your pet, keeping the campsite clean and ready for the next visitors.

With the need for sustainability in demand, the world has been craving great recycling ideas.  Green is now the color of choice, and with the beautiful lands that Iowa holds, Yantis & Associates knew we needed to become “green” ourselves. Not to mention Black Hawk County has one of the best managed recycling programs in Iowa, making the decision even easier for the office.

With the decision made, we’ve now put together a great recycling program, helping to keep the Cedar Falls and Waterloo areas looking beautiful. With a surge of energy and enthusiasm, Yantis & Associates is looking forward to doing our part, and we hope you join us in this great movement!

If you do wish to implement a recycling program, questions may arise. This includes the first, yet toughest question: 

How do I start a recycling program at my home or business?

It’s easy! All you do is follow four simple steps, and you’re on your way to become “green” yourself.

Step 1- Research what materials are recyclable in your area. (Cedar Falls recycles many items, including cardboard, paper, metal, glass, plastic, etc.)

Step 2- Encourage family or coworker participation. (Whether you are at home or on the job, it’s important to motivate others to take part in the recycling efforts.)

Step 3- Properly collect and dispose of items. (Whether you hire an outside source or do it yourself, it is important to follow through with the correct disposal techniques.)

Step 4- Take more steps toward recycling. (Look to reuse items for other uses, such as plastic sacks for garbage sacks or toilet paper rolls for fun kids projects.)

For more information on Black Hawk County recycling, visit their website at http://www.wastetrac.org/recycle.html.

The catastrophic explosion on April 20th, that caused an oil spill from a BP offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico has reached the shoreline. This oil spill has now been dubbed the worst oil spill in US  history. Efforts to manage and stop the spill using controlled burning, dispersal and plugging the leak have so far been unsuccessful. Not counting the initial explosion, as much as 19,000 barrels of oil leak into the gulf every day. Oil globs are being found on shorelines and wildlife are being affected greatly as well.

The initial explosion killed 11 workers and sank a $365 million rig. So far, BP has spent about $1.25 billion to stop the flow and scour crude from the Gulf. That amount will continue to grow as BP has not successfully stopped the flow of oil, not to mention all of the funds that will be necessary for future clean up, as well as penalties the government issues as well