Cosmetic Tattoo Australia News

Wed, 2 May 2007
Interest rates on hold: reprieve for homeowners
In a boon for the nation's mortgage belt, the Reserve Bank decided at its quarterly meeting on May 1 to leave the official cash rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent. The Reserve Bank's decision followed the publication of a much lower than expected March-quarter consumer price index, which showed inflation rose just 0.1 per cent for the quarter and 2.4 per cent for the year. This was well within the Reserve Bank’s target of 2-3 per cent. In a rare show of consensus, many economic forecasters are now predicting a further easing in inflation and most believe interest rates will stay on hold for the rest of 2007, particularly given the impending federal elections.

Sun, 09 December 2007
Oldest in Greece
Pláka, the trendy district in the shadow of the Acropolis, is packed with restaurants and souvenir shops, and is definitely one of the most interesting areas in Athens. If you’re into archaeology and historical monuments of the past – not to mention good food and wine – making Pláka your tourist homebase is a wise decision. On the other hand, if you want to get inked by some of the best in Greece, you could check out the brother and sister tattoo tag team of Paul and Anna Mamatsis at Jimmy’s Custom Tattoo.

Jimmy’s (at 13 Kyristou Street) is the oldest tattoo shop in Greece and was opened by Paul and Anna’s father Jimmy in 1977. Jimmy is a legend in Greece, and back in the 50s and 60s he traveled the world as a seaman, picking up the tattooing bug in 1957 in Bombay. “It was a handtapped job of a Native American chief and cost six rupees,” he says. “But damn if it didn’t look good. I couldn’t wait to get another!” Jimmy later moved to Toronto and, during 1959-1965, skipped between Canada and New York City as a greenhorn tattooist. He came back to Athens in the late 60s and began tattooing out of his home in 1973. The studio opened four years later, despite that fact that tattooing was an illegal profession in Greece at that time. Jimmy persevered, however, and after five years of fighting city officials, “Jimmy’s” was finally licensed in 1982 as the first tattoo studio to operate in Athens, not to mention Greece!

Jimmy’s (open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday and by appointment on Sunday) is the only tattoo studio in Pláka, but according to Paul, there are at least 30 others around town and probably 50 more home studios. Paul, who has been tattooing since 1980, enjoys the opportunity to create a lasting work of art. He told me, “I’ve always been attracted to the beauty, the passion, and the spiritual energy of tattooing, and when it all comes together, you express life through artistic creativity on other people’s skin. For me, tattooing is one of the most respectful professions I can think of. It’s an experience in life.”

The clientele at Jimmy’s extends to Greek models, soccer players, actors, doctors, attorneys, and sometimes, tourists. Since Jimmy himself is legendary, Paul believes that “90% of all Athenians who are looking for a tattoo pass through our studio first.” Plus, being located on Acropolis Hill doesn’t hurt either. It’s one of the most amazing views you can find in the ancient world!

2006 by Lars Krutak

Mon, 17 December 2007
Tattooing
Tattooing is one of the oldest forms of body art. The impetus to decorate and adorn is essentially a human characteristic and is something that people have always done. For many people the designs and symbols of adornment can hold great meaning. Similar designs can be found across cultures but their meaning can be significantly different. Within cultures the meaning of certain designs can change across time.

Source: Australian museum body art

Wed, 26 December 2007
Tattoos
Humans have marked their bodies with tattoos for thousands of years. These permanent designs—sometimes plain, sometimes elaborate, always personal—have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment.

Source: Vanishing tattoo.com

Tue, 15 January 2008
The Meaning Of Dragon Tattoos
Especially the long and flexible dragon, who descends from japanese tattoo traditions, is one of the most popular tattoo motives. Due to his shape he practically fits on every part of the body. Covering full backs, winding himself around arms or coiling up on the chest of the carrier.

In the western culture the dragon, according to the snake, symbolizes evil and has to be fought therefore. Different the japanese dragon which is called Oni and stands as a symbol of luck. The japanese dragon has its roots in the chinese mythology. He was said to live in the skies and had the ability to bring out the rain which was of big importance for the rice cultivation.

The dragon reached japan as a live spending water symbol due to the close cultural connection between china and japan where he is highly honored and admired. It is important to keep him happy because after all he could easily cause a seaquake if begrudgingly. One of the most famous and most tattooed dragon legends, aside the display of the buddhistic gods of wind and thunder (Fu-jin and Rai-jin) who are riding the dragons, is the Tamatori Hime.

Source: Tattoo joy.com

Tue, 22 January 2008
Cosmetic Surgery Information
By: Ivar Rudi

Obesity is becoming a condition of epidemic proportions throughout much of the world. Highly overweight people are leaving their annual physicals with the order to lose a significant amount of weight. Whether this weight is lost naturally, or as a result of an elective procedure, the weight loss almost always leaves behind some unattractive sagging skin.

Weight loss of 100 pounds or more can be merely the first step in an obese person’s transformation. People who have undergone gastric bypass surgery, lap band surgery, or who have lost the weight through significant exercise and diet changes, have achieved something very important, and deserve to see an attractive shape when they stand in front of the mirror.

It is important to wait to tighten up that sagging skin until after your weight loss has stabilized, a process that takes about 18 months after the weight-loss surgery, depending on how much the patient weighed before the operation, and how much weight has been loss. Performing this surgery too early can lead to skin that is not sufficiently tight, and may require further cosmetic procedures later.

Patients who have lost such significant amounts of weight are not always aware that body contouring surgery can have ramifications for the whole body. Surgeons may need to approach the whole body, rather than just in one or two specific parts of the body, which is often the case with cosmetic surgery for patients within a more normal weight range.

Common areas of sagging for patients who lose 100 pounds or more in a relatively short time include the back, thighs, abdomen, arms, breasts, face, and neck.

Body contouring is one type of cosmetic surgery that can significantly improve the shape of the body, but it cannot improve the quality of the skin. It is important to have realistic expectations from body contouring, especially after significant weight loss. The skin tissue will still be supple over time, but not like it was before the initial weight gain.

There is a wide variety of options in cosmetic surgery, and it is often necessary to perform more than one to achieve the full effect for a person who has lost over 100 pounds. The surgery should be custom-designed to fit your wants and needs.

Here is a list of some common surgeries connected with weight loss and related skin-tightening procedures:

Tummy Tuck - The tummy tuck is an operation designed to remove extra skin and fat from your abdominal area. It should also tighten the muscles along your abdominal wall. You will see almost immediate results; on your way out of the operating room, you should be able to perceive a tighter, firmer stomach.

Upper Arm Lift - The upper arm lift eradicates unwanted skin and fat from the arm, eliminating unsightly flabbiness. You will come away from this procedure with a firmer, younger skin tone that is closer to the rest of your body than the flabby arm had been.

Thigh Lift – Incisions or liposuction are used to take away excess skin and fat from the thighs. This will take the "orange peel" look away from your legs and will help you to have tighter buttocks and thighs over time.

Full Body Lift – This is the most thorough, and the most popular, post-weight loss cosmetic surgery. Excess skin and fat are removed from all over the body, including the hips, buttocks, belly, back, and outer thighs, and can offer lifelong dramatic results for the disciplined patient.

Significant weight loss comes at a cost. Whether you paid in money or in sweat for your weight loss, there is no reason why you should not now have the body you deserve.



Wed, 30 January 2008
Solving A Crisis With An Unsecured Personal Loan
If you have recently found yourself in financial trouble because of an unexpected event or problem and you aren't sure how you are going to pay the bills or get the problem taken care of you might want to consider taking out an unsecured personal loan. This is a great way to protect your assets and solve the problem sooner rather than later. This is not something that you want to do for just any reason, if you can help it, but a personal loan can really help you out in a pinch.

Personal loans come in really handy in a pinch because you don't have to wait weeks at a time for an approval process. These loans are made for those that need to pay off other debts or paying off a onetime expense that you hadn't planned for. Many people use these loans when unexpected medical bills come up or when they have to travel for a family emergency, buy a new car, or repair a vehicle.

Unsecured personal loans are preferable because you can receive the entire amount of the loan up front, you don't have limits as to what you can use and when. In addition to getting the full amount of the loan right away, if you need it, the funds that you are approved for will be paid to you by check or even by direct deposit into your checking account so they are available for immediate use. You can be approved for a personal loan in as little as a couple hours and you can receive the money in as little as 24 hours. You simply cannot beat timing like this.

Personal loans provide consumers with the ability to pay off bills and other expenses to help prevent a financial crisis, but then they continue to be affordable. Most of the time personal loans have interest rates and principal so you don't have to worry about fluctuating interest rates. In addition you will usually have monthly payments and you can usually pay more towards the principal at any time and there is typically not a pre-payment penalty. So, if you take out the loan and you are able to pay it off sooner than you thought, you won't be penalized for it.

Most banks will offer unsecured personal loans for as little as $1,000 to as much as $250,000 though these amounts may vary slightly. The term of the loan will generally be up to five years, though this may depend on the state that you live in, your credit, as well as the amount of money that you are borrowing. Fees associated with the loan will vary depending on your bank as well as where you live.

Unsecured personal loans have the ability to get you out of very sticky situations very quickly. If you have had something come up and you just cannot pay it off consider what an unsecured personal loan can do for you. In just a few days time you may be able to take care of those finances that are leaving you stressed out and tossing and turning at night.

Source; Article Dashboard



Mon, 04 February 2008
Tattoo Art Tips : How to Take Care of a New Tattoo
If you finally decide to get a tattoo you will go to a recommended tattoo artist. He will probably show you some designs to pick from. If you don't like any of them you can ask him to do a custom one. Be careful when choosing the design of your new tattoo because you will live with it all your life. anyway, after getting a tattoo done you should know some aftercare tips that cannot be ignored.

If you go to a good tattoo shop than the tattooist will clean and apply antiseptic ointment to the tattoo while creating it. This is the healthiest way to make a tattoo.

After the job is finished the artist will clean it and use another coat of ointment. Then will apply a piece of cellophane or soft tissue.

After all that is done the tattooist will explain you how to take care of your new tattoo or he will give you a sheet with detailed instructions. in case none of this happens i will explain you in the rest of this article what you should do.

1. First of all, when you get home, don't jump immediately in the shower. My advice is to keep it dry(but also clean). Be sure to wash your hands very well before touching the new tattoo. This way you won't have any complications or infections.

2. Next, go to the first drug store you find and buy a tube of A&D Ointment. Apply it on the tattoo the first four too six days. After it gets dry remove the old application with a piece of soft cloth and then apply another one. Be very careful not to rub too hard the new tattoo. Do not use soap in the first few day, it's not recommended.

3. After few days you can stop using the A&D Ointment. Try to use some kind unscented, unmedicated body lotion, as some scents may irritate the still-tender skin of your tattoo.

4. After you have applied the body lotion for around week you can stop doing that. A problem is that when the tattoo heals it will scab in some portions. When you will try to pick this cabs be very careful not to damage your tattoo design. So the best for you and your tattoo is to let it heal alone.

So after you get a new tattoo and fallow this after car instructions you can be sure that you won't have any problems. I use this methods my self and i can sincerly recommend it.

Source:BestTattoos.com

Sat, 09 February 2008
Some Background to Laser Tattoo Removal
As lasers became more available and affordable it meant that tattoos could be removed with a higher level of safety and effectiveness than before with other non-laser tattoo removal methods. Laser removal of tattoos work by sending different colour light pulses into the skin. The tattoo ink particles absorb the light, heat up and then break up into smaller particles that can be taken away by our bodies immune system. Earlier Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) laser systems worked but because the duration of contact between the skin and the laser pulse, scarring would result to a degree. More up to date Q-Switched lasers deliver the beam at a much faster speed and can be controlled better which results in little or no scarring.

Source:Femininetattoo.com.uk

Sat, 16 February 2008
Payday Loans Can Powerful Tool For Those In Financial Need
If you are in a tough financial situation, and find yourself needing cash and your next paycheck is several days away a payday loan just might be the solution to all of your financial needs. If your think you have seen those ads for the fast cash payday loans, and you and others you know assume right away that they are scams, maybe you should think again. Sure they do charge more interest than a more traditional loan for the cash that they lend you until your next payday, but you know what, there are plenty of people who need money immediately, and have been saved by a easy, simple fast payday loans that give you cash when you need it.

Yeah, I know that I am well off now, and really want very little in my life but this was not always quite the case, just as it is not the case for millions of Americans today that work hard and live from paycheck to paycheck. There was a time when I was on the edge of absolute abject poverty with not a thing in the world. It had gotten so bad that the banks were threatening to repossess my car, which would have meant that I would not have had a vehicle to travel to and from work, and if I lost my job I would only get deeper in debt and had zero income. I needed money pretty darn bad. So, I decide to look into getting money through a payday loan advance.

By money, I mean almost a thousand dollars. It's strange to have all that cash in transferred to your bank account when your used to your balance never being over a couple of hundred dollars, and knowing that you can not spend any of it on luxury items. It is all set aside for important bills, which I paid and I was no longer worried about losing my car, or anything else for that matter. The payday loan I received saved my job, and my car.

I had suddenly gotten enough to get back on my feet again. The process of getting my payday loan was really quite simple. I filled out the forms on the Internet and gave them all of the information they requested, including my bank account number and bank routing number. Very quickly I was informed my loan was approved and the money would be in my bank account within twenty four hours, and sure enough the money was tin my account the next morning. I did not have to beg a loan officer to ignore my bad credit, or convince someone that the reason I needed to borrow the money was for a good cause. There was absolutely no embarrassment on my part or judgments from the payday loan company. I did not even have to fax the payday loan company any documents, the whole process was just easy.

Several weeks after I got my loan, I paid it off. Since I paid the loan off on time the company let me know that I could get another loan with them without any problems if I needed it. I took the up on that offer several months later; I borrowed less money this time to make sure I had enough cash for my vacation. Payday Loans can be a powerful tool to help those in financial need, if used correctly.

Source:http://powerfulpaydayloans.com/

Fri, 14 March 2008
Bad Credit Loan: Financial Help For Low Scorers
The number of people with bad credit history is increasing day by day. And once you attain this tag, it becomes impossible to wash this stain off. Any request for personal loan by people with bad credit was generally declined. But now bad credit loans are designed especially to meet the requirements of people having bad credit record.

Bad credit loans are crafted specifically to help those who have credit problems like CCJs, IVA, loan non repayment, arrears or defaults etc against their name. Now, with the help of this loan, they can meet their demands like home refurbishing, paying education fees, wedding expenses, paying off debts or buying a vehicle.

Bad credit loans can be availed in two forms, secured and unsecured. For secured bad credit loan one is required to pledge an asset as collateral. The amount derived is based on the equity value of collateral. One can avail an amount ranging from $ 5000 and $ 75000 with a repayment term of 5- 25 years.

Unsecured bad credit loans are collateral free. So those who don’t want to risk their asset can opt for unsecured loan type. But the interest rate charged is slightly higher in it. Unsecured options advance the amount ranging between $ 1000 and $25000 with a repayment term of 6 months- 10 years.

Various banks and financial institution are ready to lend bad credit loans provided you produce documents of your income and bank statements. This will satisfy the lender of your repaying ability. Many lucrative deals on the loan amount are available online also. Online dealing is comparatively faster and saves a lot of time.

With the help of bad credit loans, the people with credit problems can solve their troubles and can also improve their credit score by paying off the loan in time. To maintain a healthy credit score, borrower must ensure to repay the installments regularly.

By: Tom Dikkin



Sat, 22 March 2008
Online Refinancing Option
Online Refinancing Option

Although the Internet is useful for handling important matters, some people are leery about obtaining a loan through online mortgage brokers. Online refinancing is becoming increasingly popular. Most mortgage websites include comprehensive information about refinancing. The objective is to lessen nervousness and increase your trust in a lender or broker. Home buyers may complete applications online and receive a quote within a few hours. Through online refinancing, homeowners receive two quotes. If refinancing by way of a mortgage broker, the broker will obtain estimated quotes from different lenders. Requesting estimated quotes from various lenders will not lower credit scores. Homeowner can browse lenders and compare rates. Next, homeowners may select a lender from the brokers list and request an official quote. Upon reviewing an applicant's credit rating, lenders send an official quote highlighting the best interest rate and closing fees.

Source: http://home-loan-rate.blogspot.com/

Thu, 27 March 2008
Online Payday Loans
Have you found yourself in some financial troubles because you didn't have the cash you needed to pay bills that were due? Don't worry, you are not alone. Almost everyone comes across financial difficulties from time to time, whether they plan well or not. Even if you think that you are the most organized person under the sun, everyone comes into times of trouble from time to time. With all the bills that you need to keep track of in your daily life, it can be hard to manage to pay all of them and have enough funds to live comfortably.

Because sometimes people come into hard financial times where they simply cannot afford to pay for all the bills that come their way, payday loans were created. Yes, you may think that payday loans are only for financially indebted people or people who are financially irresponsible, but this is not the case at all. More and more, people are resorting to payday loans to get them through the month without falling into bankruptcy.

While you may have heard of payday loans and be sort of familiar with the process, you might be quite new to the idea of online payday loans. In our society, we rely on computers and the internet so much for things that it is no surprise that people have made the process of getting payday loans into a convenient easy to get online purchase.

Get Them Today

With online payday loans, you are taking away the entire hassle that comes with getting payday loans. Without ever leaving your home or office, you can go online and sign up for a payday loan. When you get online payday loans, you are simplifying your life and allowing the very process of loans to become easier than ever. Now you know the power of payday loans.

If you have found yourself in a sticky financial situation in which you need cash but don't know how or where to get it fast, or are unsure of taking out a loan because of the stipulations that loans come with, you do not have to worry. With our help, you can learn all about the quick and easy solution of online payday loans to make the whole problem disappear. The time is now to get on track and get the money you need to save your life.

Source: http://www.payloanstoday.com/



Sun, 20 April 2008
Many People Have Realized the Convenience and Benefits of Online Personal Loans
By Beth Pardue

The Internet has provided a whole new dimension to obtaining a personal loan. Before lending companies were available on the World Wide Web, people were limited with their loan options and from where they could get a loan. Now there are endless financial resources available to people, no matter what their credit situation may be. With so many sources to lenders available online, you can often find loan deals that beat out the interest rates and loan terms you can find at local banks and credit unions.

Online personal loan options have also made it easier for those who have tarnished credit to get a loan. Consumers can search the web to find numerous lenders willing to grant loans to people with bad credit. There are other financial tools available online that can even help get your credit back into shape. You can find debt counseling and credit monitoring services as well as many free tips to help with improving your credit score like the ones available at http://www.free-debt-consultation.com

Even though the Internet has made the personal loan process much more user friendly, the requirements to obtain a loan are still the same. You still must fill out a loan application and go through the approval process. However, the online approval process is usually much faster than the traditional loan approval turnaround time. With many online lenders you will know right away if you are approved or not.

As with any loan, you want to make sure that your credit history meets the requirements of the online loan offer. Even though it is fast and easy to apply for online loans, you want to try to keep your applications to a minimum. Filling out numerous loan applications in a short time span can be detrimental to your credit score.

It’s no wonder why so many people are catching on to the convenience of getting their loans online. With the large variety of personal loans available online, you may never have to take the time to drive to your bank for a loan ever again. More than likely, you can find any type of personal loan online that is available anywhere else. Mortgage loans, auto loans (new and used), refinance loans, debt consolidations and payday loans are just a few of the most common personal loans you can find on the Internet. Visit http://www.easy-approval-personal-loans.com to learn about some of your online personal loan options.



Sun, 18 May 2008
Tattoo Removal
Tattoo removal is performed using laser therapy and the process of the patient's immune system which removes pigment fragments naturally. Lasers provide high levels of energy over very short periods of time allowing for the reduction of unwanted tattoos. For a tattoo removal to be successful it may require anywhere from three to ten treatments depending on the size, depth, intensity of the ink, line width, and color of ink. The surgeon you choose will evaluate your situation and provide you with an estimate of treatments, price, and more procedure details.

Source: http://tattoo-removal.cosmeticsurgeryprocedure.com/

Thu, 29 May 2008
18 Personal Loan Tips For Intending Borrowers
If you're thinking of borrowing money to buy a car, boat, debt consolidation, home repairs, medical bills or anything else for that matter, here are some red hot tips to make the process much, much easier.

Avoid unsecured loans if possible

Avoid using unsecured personal loans if you can put up some security for your borrowings. This will get you a lower interest rate. A home equity loan, or redraw of extra repayments, allowing you to borrow against the equity built up in your own home or an investment property, is the best option of all, and could get you finance at up to 5 percent less than a personal loan.

Be honest in loan applications

Be honest about why you want the loan. Your bank may be able to offer you a loan option that better suits your circumstances. There are an increasing variety of different types of personal credit these days; car loans, commercial loans, leases, home equity loans, are just some of the examples.

Can't get a standard loan? There are alternatives

If the banks, building societies and credit unions won't lend to you because you're self employed, newly arrived in the country or have a poor credit history, consider the booming non-conforming and "low doc" loan market. A number of non-bank lenders offer loans which especially cater for this type of borrower. The interest rates on non-conforming loans are generally higher but come down after a few years of on-time repayments.

Check your statements for errors

There are claims that more than 50 percent of loan statements contain calculation errors. Simple mistakes, like the entry of the incorrect balance or the application of the wrong interest rate at the wrong time can be costly and mostly favour the lender. We all make mistakes, even bank computers make them and that's why borrowers should keep a close eye on loan statements. Various software for your home PC is available that can run a check on your statements.

Consider smaller lenders too

When shopping around for a car loan, consider community banks, credit unions and other smaller financial institutions which might be more approachable, and offer lower interest too.

Do you have to take out a personal loan at all?

Think twice before borrowing money without security. You may have a better option already available; home equity extension to your home loan, a new loan that uses your property as security, a credit card, or even a rich relative!

Do you qualify for a 'relationship discount'?

Relationship discounts are available from banks and credit unions for those borrowers who consolidate a range of banking business with the one institution. Home and personal loan interest rate discounts, term deposit bonuses, savings account fee waivers and credit card annual fee waivers are commonly offered.

Don't just take the dealer finance

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Don’t accept loan or lease finance offered by a car dealer before comparing the offer with finance options offered by your bank or other credit providers. Dealer finance might be less hassle but you could well end up with an expensive loan and more restrictive terms and conditions. The same goes when buying furniture or any consumer goods where finance terms are offered.

Don't make multiple applications

Don’t fill out applications at several financial institutions and have all of them checking into your credit history. This can make you look desperate and lower your credit score.

Don't rely solely on comparison rates

All lenders must now include "comparison rates" in advertisements for their home loans and personal loans to help consumers get a feel for their total cost - fees and the interest. Don't rely solely on comparison rates when choosing a loan and beware of their shortcomings. They only take into account fees and interest rates, not the features and how suitable the loan is for your circumstances.

Have the right information when applying

What you will be required to supply in any application for lease finance will depend on whether the lease is for personal or business use.

Personal lease applications will require:

· proof of current employment

· income details or tax returns

Business lease financing requires more detailed information and may include your:

· balance sheet

· tax returns

· cash flow projections

· business plan

Confirm with the lender what you will need before the interview.

Have you considered a credit card?

Consider also a credit card as your source of credit. Interest rates are generally higher but credit cards are easier to secure and offer greater flexibility of repayments.

Honesty counts

Be honest about why you want the loan. Your bank may be able to offer you a loan option that better suits your circumstances. There are an increasing variety of different types of personal credit these days; car loans, commercial loans, leases, home equity loans, are just some of the examples.

Keep accurate records

Keep accurate records of your deposits and ATM transactions. It is also wise to keep copies of your loan application and approval documents in a safe place.

This is the best way to avoid hefty fees which may be charged by a bank when its customers want to see copies of their cheques or loan files.

Know what interest rate applies

When offered car finance, either lease or loan, always be sure you know what interest rate applies. Lenders often ‘sell’ you their finance packages by quoting the monthly repayments only. This may disguise a high interest rate.

Look beyond the banks

Get a feel for what's on offer across the wide range of financial providers around these days. Credit unions, building societies, mortgage originators, community banks and boutique online or telephone banks may offer better interest rates or lower fees than the big banks because they are anxious to win new business or they are non-profit organisations.

Try lenders with whom you are a regular customer

Take advantage of the human factor. Being a familiar face may earn you some slack if your credit background is smudged.

Understand what's on offer

Is the interest rate fixed or variable? What up-front, annual or ongoing fees are charged?

Source: http://www.money-tips.com.au/



Wed, 11 June 2008
9 Ways to Stretch Your Income
Here are some great tips for stretching every dollar.

1. Save a penny, keep a penny.

Dump your pocket change into a jar each night.

Invest it in a high-interest bearing account at the end of each month.

Woman's Day magazine recently suggested this money-saver, adding that if a couple puts just one dollar each into the jar every day, the sum will top $700 at the end of the year.

Invested at 10 percent interest over 10 years, that pocket change will grow into $12,000.

2. Use your computer.

You can save big money by shopping online, if you know where to look.

Do a Google search for coupon codes before you start shopping from online merchants.

You can also purchase a local coupon book for offline purchases (The Entertainment Book, for example.) I use mine all the time for groceries, oil changes, and dining out.

3. Write letters.

Whether you love the product or hate it, write the manufacturer a letter.

A company that receives a complaint is bound to make amends.

On the same token, many companies will acknowledge--and encourage--your satisfaction with coupons and discounts.

4. Shop smart.

Look at the grocery store ads before heading off to the store.

Maybe you can reserve a few items for purchase at a nearby store that is offering unusual bargains.

5. Ban impulse buying.

Make it a family policy: if you see something you like, write it on a wish list and wait at least three days before buying.

6. Watch out for "nickel and dime" expenses.

Those little snacks and coffee stops can easily add up to more than $500 per year.

7. Shop around.

Research purchases on the internet.

Before making a big online purchase, visit http://www.dealtime.com and http://www.mysimon.com.

8. Refinance your home.

Signing a few papers can save you big money on your mortgage payments. In fact, if you refinance and consolidate your debts into your home mortgage you'll find that your monthly outgoings can decrease dramatically.

It's really not as big a hassle as you might think.

Ask your friends and family for the name of a good mortgage broker

9. Examine credit card use.

If you're paying credit card debt, you're paying not just 17 percent more for your purchases than you need to, you're also missing out on the money that the sum could earn for you if you had invested it.

Try calling your credit card company and ask if there’s a way to lower your rate.

One two-minute phone call recently reduced our rate by 4 percentage points. That was one call I wish I'd made a long time ago.

The most important thing is to recognize that you control your finances. Empower yourself with smart spending.

Source:Susie Cortright

Mon, 16 June 2008

Here are 16 of the simple, everyday changes that have worked for us.

1. Use a coupon, absolutely whenever possible. I was really surprised by how many money-saving opportunities are out there when I knew where to look.

For local purchases, get an “Entertainment Book” each year and you will save on those inevitable everyday expenses ranging from dining out to accommodation and admission to movies, theme parks, etc.

For online purchases, stick to the reputable retailers. You certainly will not save any money if you are the victim of fraud or if you are simply unable to return an item. And before you start shopping, always look for a coupon code that will allow you to save on your purchase. In the past, many online retailers sent out promotional codes as a series of letters or numbers that could be entered at checkout. Now, many retailers use a button or text link that automatically activates your coupon when you click through, so it is often a good idea to find the coupon first, before you start to shop.

2. Shop around. The internet is an amazing tool for researching products and retailers, as well as for comparison shopping. We make nearly all of our large purchases online. It is also important to know where to shop. For holiday gifts, plan ahead and check out the big online discount stores. Many offer significantly reduced prices on trusted brands. And you can get great delivery rates too, even on large gifts. I once had an enormous game table shipped to me for $2.50.



3. Keep a running list of gift ideas for your loved ones. I have found that when I am confident that a gift is perfect for the recipient, I am much less likely to overspend. But that kind of inspiration rarely hits me during the pre-Christmas rush, so I need to keep a list going the whole year through.

4. Budget. Of course, it is important to know what you are really spending. For years, the budget I had in mind was really more of a “wishful thinking” budget. But this quickly led to debt. It pays to get realistic. Whether you use a computer program or a simple ledger book, make sure you know where your money is really going.

5. Save for the future. Take 10 percent of your income and put it in savings, right off the bat. Now you know what you need to cut back on (or how much more you need to earn) to shore up the deficit.

6. Plan ahead. You will want to make sure you have money in the bank for emergencies. Experts say you should have three to six months of living expenses set aside, for those just-in-case times. It sounds like a lot, but start socking away money each month, and it will add up fast.

7. Get organised. When your home is organised, you will be less likely to spend money on items that are already hiding in the nether reaches of your closet and drawers. The same goes for your refrigerator and kitchen cupboards. Purge and organize before you shop.

8. Simplify. There is a certain romance to the “simplify your life” movement. And having too much stuff really does weigh us down. Take a look at everything in your home. If it does not add joy, beauty, meaning, or usefulness to your life, give it away. And when you are tempted to buy something new, it must pass the same test.

On a quarterly basis, go through your house and ask yourself these same things again. Go through your closet, attic, garage, and basement and purge those items that do not add genuine joy, beauty, meaning or usefulness to your everyday life.

9. Reduce, reuse and recycle. A simple lifestyle, for me, is about reducing my urge to over-consume. It is about being kind to the environment. It is about spending less money on material things, so that I have more time and money to spend on memories with my family. Make changes that will help the environment and your purse at the same time. Install water saving kits on your toilet. Write on the back sides of paper. Use reusable containers in your lunches. All these little things really do add up, and it is important to show our children how we can all be part of the solution.

10. Shop without your kids. I know that if I get a shopping cart at Coles and I do not have a list, I will spend $150. If the kids are with me, I will spend even more. This is another reason it makes sense to do your shopping online. You are less likely to purchase the incidentals.

11. Make sure that your credit card is paying you back via an incentive program. I found a credit card that allows me to earn points on my daily purchases toward our annual vacation trip, including airline miles and hotel accommodations. Since most of my expenses each month are incurred at the grocery store, I found a card that rewards specifically for these types of purchases. Of course, you will need to make sure that you are paying off your balance each and every month. Paying a high interest rate on your credit card will quickly negate any savings you accrue on your incentive plan.

12. Lower your interest rates. If you are carrying a balance on a credit card, give the credit card company a call to see if they will give you a lower rate. Sometimes, it is just that easy.

13. Shop around for insurance. The money you pay for car, home, life and health insurance can vary greatly. Do some research to find out if you are getting the best rate.

14. Be wary of the influence of TV commercials and print ads, especially on your children. We hear fewer cries of “I want that!” when we keep our kids programming to those channels rely less on advertising dollars, such as the ABC and some pay TV channels.

15. Play “Time Warp.” This is a technique I first learned from “My Monastery is a Minivan,” by Denise Roy, and I use it quite a lot. It goes like this: When you are tempted to make a purchase, mentally fast-forward through the life of the item. For example, in her book, Roy thinks she needs new candleholders. She imagines spending time at the mall to find them, soon having to clean them, and then, years down the road, packing them in the giveaway box. She shirks the purchase and soon rediscovers the heirloom candleholders that are packed away right in her own home.

I like to play this "fast forward" technique in reverse, too, asking: What new clothes did I buy last season? (Sometimes, I can not remember). Where are those "I have to have it" items now?

16. Keep your mind on abundance. When you are thinking about money, it is really important to get out of the poverty mindset. Too often, when we are focused on saving money, we are living from a perspective that focuses on lack and scarcity, which tends to bring about more of the same. It has been really helpful for me to make a conscious effort to see the world as infinitely abundant and to rest in the notion that my needs will be taken care of. This is generally a simple matter of thinking more about what I *do* have than what I do not have.

All my days of penny-pinching have certainly proven to me that it truly does not take money to make us happy. Many of my fondest memories have occurred in the smallest homes. My child’s favourite playthings tend to be the inexpensive items that were never designed to be toys at all.

And it is the simple, everyday pleasures that are the sweetest, when enjoyed together.

Source:Jamie Jefferson



Mon, 23 June 2008
Cosmetic Tattoo
Cosmetic tattooing, permanent makeup or semi-permanent makeup are sometimes the terms used for a revolutionary non-surgical procedure of applying natural pigments into the middle layer of the skin.

This state of the art technique is medically proven and specifically designed to be completely safe. Permanent makeup is used for a variety of permanent cosmetic enhancements such as eyebrows, eyeliner and lip colour. Other procedures include scar camouflage, hairline enhancement treatments and tattoo removal.

Source:http://www.australiancosmetictattoo.com/

Sat, 28 June 2008
Do You Work For Your Money Or Does Your Money Work For You ?
The Poor Cash Flow Pattern

In order to understand the three basic cash flow patterns, you must first understand the difference between an asset and a liability. When you stop working for money, an asset is something that will put money in your pocket every month. A liability is something that will take money out of your pocket every month. This idea touches on the difference between earned income and passive income.

The first basic cash flow pattern is the poor cash flow pattern. Before most people even learn about money they want things, and so they learn first to work FOR money. As their income is earned it is just as quickly spent on their list of wanted items. The poor cash flow pattern has earned income flowing in and entirely back out to expenses.

It does not matter if you have a sizeable income, because money does not make you rich or poor. Money is just a tool. It is how you are managing the tool (money) that determines whether you become rich or poor. Even with a substantial income you are still poor as long as your focus is only to earn your income and pay your expenses.

You may make $500,000 a year, you may have enough income to cover all of your expenses, but if you were to stop working for money you would quickly realize that you are poor, and the idea that you were not was just a temporary illusion.

The Middle-Class Cash Flow Pattern

Eventually people get tired of this routine and begin to gain better understanding and control over their expenses. Enough time spent focused on working for money may produce extra income in the way of a raise or a promotion.

Most people still have not spent any time to financially educate themselves, so they don't know what to do with the extra money. They don't have any ideas of their own about financing their retirement, either. The extra money is usually used to buy a newer car, a bigger house, and anything left over usually accumulates as savings. Eventually most are sold on putting the extra money into a portfolio for their retirement, usually consisting of mutual funds.

These purchases make life more comfortable, and so feel like assets...but they create an expense every month for a very long period of time. The misunderstanding is made worse by bankers who ask you to list your cars and home as assets against loans. By definition, these purchases are liabilities.

The Wealthy Cash Flow Pattern

A change of focus to passive income leads people down the path to a wealthy cash flow pattern. When you look at the pattern of the wealthy you may notice- they do not get their income from a job. Their cash flows in from assets.

Imagine spending your time figuring out a process that will automatically produce some income for you every month. Now imagine duplicating and improving upon that process until it automatically produces your ENTIRE income every month. Finally, you will stop working for money. That process is a business, and that income is a passive income.

From that point forward you will be financially independent. You will not work for money, you will have money working for you. It might take you 2, 3, or even 5 years to establish a system to that point, but once you do you can retire. Once you retire, you have all of your time to spend however you like.

This is the reason understanding the three basic cash flow patterns is so important. These patterns demonstrate the reason why you can become financially independent in just a few years working at a seven dollar an hour job. Your biggest obstacle in the beginning is controlling your expenses and changing your focus from earned income to passive income. Once you have become committed to these fundamental ideas, only persistence stands between you and great wealth.

Written by: Frank Hills



Mon, 07 July 2008
Tattoo removal
Unwanted tattoos can cause psychological problems, especially if they are easily visible. In the past, tattoo removal almost always led to unacceptable scarring of the skin. The development of modern lasers means that tattoos can be safely and effectively removed in most cases.

Types of tattoos

There are three main types of tattoos:

Decorative tattoos are made by repeatedly puncturing the skin with a needle saturated with coloured ink.

Traumatic tattoos can occur if the skin is grazed along the surface of a road and tiny pieces of grit and carbon powder enter the skin.

Gunpowder explosions can cause tattooing if the gunpowder penetrates the skin.

Why tattoos are permanent

Tattoos appear under a microscope as tiny granules of colour (pigment). These granules are located in a skin cell known as a macrophage. Macrophages normally remove foreign objects (for example, bacteria) from the body. The pigment, grit or carbon powder that has caused the tattoo ‘freezes’ the macrophage cell so that it can’t do its job. As a result, the pigment remains in the skin and the tattoo becomes permanent.

Old versus new methods of tattoo removal

In the past, a variety of methods have been used to remove tattoos, including skin grafting, dermabrasion (removing the top layers of skin), acid de-tattooing, infra-red and argon and carbon dioxide lasers. These treatments caused scarring in a large number of cases. The development of Q-Switched lasers means tattoos can now be safely removed in most cases. The Q-switched Alexandrite laser is best for removal of green pigment while the Q-switched Yag laser is better for removing blue/black pigments. This laser is also best for people with darker skin.

How the new treatments work

Q-switched lasers work by penetrating the skin and breaking up the tattoo pigments into smaller pieces. The macrophage cells are then able to clear these smaller pigments from the skin. The laser feels like a snapping rubber band. It will not damage the normal skin surrounding the tattoo.

Tattoos take weeks or months to fade

The tattoo will take weeks or months to fade after treatment. Several treatments will be required before the tattoo fades. In general:

Self-applied tattoos require three to four treatments.

Tattoos applied by a professional tattooist and involving several colours will require more than 10 treatments.

A low risk of scarring

As with all medical or surgical treatments, tattoo removal involves some risks:

In less than five per cent of cases, some very minor scarring may be seen.

Some patients also develop some lightening of the skin.

Where to get help

Your doctor for advice and referral

The Australasian College of Dermatologists www.dermcoll.asn.au

Things to remember

Most tattoos can be safely and effectively removed using a modern laser.

It will take weeks or months after treatment before the tattoo fades.

Possible complications of tattoo removal include minor scarring and lightening of the skin.

Written by:http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Sat, 12 July 2008
CHOOSING A PIERCER
Consider first visiting the studio without intending to get pierced so that you are not under pressure or

too nervous to be aware of the quality of the services.

The best way to judge a piercer is to look at his/her work. If possible, talk to customers about their

experiences. Ask to see a portfolio, specifically photographs of the piercing you are interested in and

preferably photos of successfully healed piercings.

While attendance of a piercer training seminar or class should be considered an advantage, it does

not guarantee a piercer's level of skill or experience. Ideally, a training seminar serves as a wellrounded

introduction to safe and responsible piercing.

The facility should be clean, orderly, and well lit. All Instruments utilized during the procedure should

be sterile. Disposable items such as gloves, needle, cork, towels, cotton swabs, and gauze pads

should all be new and sterilized if possible.

The piercer should answer any questions before and after the piercing is performed. You should feel

comfortable and at ease, not rushed. The piercer should review the piercing procedure and give both

oral and written aftercare instructions. S/he should discuss the risks and possible complications

associated with the piercing, which may include infection, migration or rejection, scarring, allergy or

sensitivity to the jewellery, allergy or sensitivity to the aftercare products, and suggest a course of

action in case a problem does occur.

A responsible piercing studio will require that you complete a waiver form which describes the limits of

piercer liability as well as what you should expect before, during and after the piercing procedure. The

waiver serves to protect both the piercer and customer. It is your responsibility to inform the piercer

of any medical conditions which may be exacerbated by the piercing procedure or of conditions which

may interfere with the healing process.

The piercer should practice aseptic technique, which includes appropriate sterilization of instruments

and jewellery, disinfection of surfaces, and avoiding cross-contamination. Every instrument that comes

into contact with your body or with the jewellery should come from sealed sterilization packets with

sterilization indicators. The needle and jewellery should remain in sterilisation packets until they are

used.

Jewellery, as it is received from the manufacturer, should be assumed to be non-sterile. Ideally, the

jewellery should be sterilized in individual autoclave packages that are opened in front of the

customer so that there is no question that the jewellery has been sterilized. Jewellery which has been

bulk sterilized must be stored and handled responsibly. Jewellery that has been stored in a display

case or handled with bare hands should be re-sterilized. Jewellery that has previously been worn

should be sterilized.

The piercer should wear new, disposable gloves throughout the procedure and should change gloves

when appropriate to avoid cross contamination. Cross contamination occurs when a clean or sterile

item comes into contact with a contaminated item. Cross contamination also occurs when a clean or

sterile item is handled with contaminated gloves or gloves that have been worn to handle

contaminated items. To prevent cross contamination of sterile instruments during the piercing

procedure, the piercer should change gloves if s/he touches anything that is non-sterile or unsuitably

contaminated (ie. handled with bare hands or used instruments that have not been sterilized). After

the piercer completes the piercing procedure, s/he should change gloves before handling items that

will not be disposed of or autoclaved.

Because everyone is built differently, not everyone is anatomically suited for every piercing. Certain

daily activities and sports can prolong healing or prohibit certain piercings. An experienced piercer will

be able to ascertain if the piercing is likely to be successful.

3

A piercing should not be attempted if there is not enough tissue to support the piercing. Piercings

made in flat areas often migrate or reject (grow-out). The optimum area to be pierced is one in which

the piercing will be perpendicular to the tissue, like an earlobe piercing.

Wearing jewellery of an appropriate metal, design, and dimensions (gauge and diameter) is important

for a successful piercing. The body more easily rejects jewellery that is too thin in gauge. Wearing

jewellery that is too thin increases the risk of the piercing being torn if the jewellery gets caught or

pulled. Wearing jewellery that is too thick and heavy may cause the piercing to migrate or reject. The

jewellery must not be so thick that the strength of the tissue is compromised.

The diameter or length of the jewellery must be chosen carefully. The jewellery should be chosen

after the piercing is measured. Some piercings tend to swell during the healing period. Wearing

jewellery that is too small in diameter or length will constrict the piercing and cause the piercing to

migrate and scar.

Source: www.hepcvic.org.au/pdf/healthy

Sun, 20 July 2008
The Best Cosmetic Products For Women
Like a young girl who has found a new fun toy, this article about cosmetic products will present a whole new world of joy and wonder for you. Modern technology gives today's women a huge advantage over women of our grandmother's time. While cell phone technology gives us instant access to family members, modern fabrics allow for wash and wear convenience. As for our personal appearance, with the cosmetics products now available, there's simply no excuse for not looking your best. There are cosmetic products for every beauty need - wrinkles are diminished and nails made beautiful in just a matter of minutes. Let's take a look and see how some of today's cosmetic products would have been a dream come true for your grandmother. If you're old enough to remember putting your hair in old-fashioned rollers which poked your head all night and more often than not, fell out before the morning's brushing, you can appreciate the bevy of hair curling cosmetic products at your disposal today. There are curlers which come in special boxes to steam before placing in the hair. This means your do is perfection in less than twenty minutes. You no longer have to deal with nasty-smelling sprays which make the hair as stiff as a board. Gels and mousses keep every hair in place and have a nice fragrance as well. In Grandma's day, all the cosmetic products in the world wouldn't hide scraggly looking nails. The ordinary woman, with everyday cleaning causing snags and breaks, had to be satisfied with short nails. Press-on nails have hit the cosmetic products scene. You can have gorgeous, sexy nails with multi-color effects, intricate designs and glittery highlights at a moment's notice. Perhaps one of the greatest cosmetic products to come to the rescue of today's woman is the face cream, with a solution for every type of skin and age group. Today it's possible to keep those telltale wrinkles away. There are cosmetic products developed just for teenage skin, eliminating blemishes while nourishing young skin. There are creams suitable for daytime application as well as rejuvenating creams that work all through the night. Still more are especially for use on delicate under-eye areas.

Before we go an further, lets take a moment to review what we have learned so far about this amazing subject. Cosmetics products designed for cleaning the skin are no longer limited to cold creams. Young or older, you'll find cleansing creams and lotions to nourish and invigorate your skin. Make-up is light years ahead of Grandma's repertoire. Her foundation was a heavy liquid which never quite looked natural. Now, the number of available shades are many and today's foundation is light and natural, handily covering minor imperfections. Any cosmetic products counter, from pricey department stores to the discount drugstore, presents dozens of choices in lip color and eye shadow. Yes, we should thank our lucky stars for the modern technology that produced the current selection of cosmetic products. Besides the obvious beauty advantages, these products are relatively inexpensive when you consider the life span of a bottle of foundation or box of eyeshadow. A visit to the cosmetics counter can be fun indeed! As my smart dad once said, knowing stuff is everything, so continue gathering information about cosmetic products until you feel you are adequately educated on the subject. You can gain more information about this fun and exciting topic if you Google it.

By: Gnubas

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Sat, 26 July 2008
Who wants to be a millionaire?
Australia now has more of them than Brazil or Spain. John Collett looks at the reasons why.Thanks to the resources boom, the ranks of Australia's millionaires swelled more quickly last year than in most other developed countries...

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The number of Australians with financial assets of at least $US1 million ($1.03 million), excluding the family home but including superannuation, rose 7.1 per cent to 172,000, according to a survey by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini.

Of the 71 countries surveyed, Australia ranked 10th by number of millionaires.

Australia has more millionaires than Brazil and Spain, despite those countries having much bigger populations. As expected, the US is still the richest country and is home to 3 million of the world's 10 million millionaires.

Yet the large emerging economies of China, India, Russia and Brazil are growing their ranks of millionaires much more quickly than countries with fully developed economies. China, which had 415,000 millionaires last year, is on the verge of overtaking Britain and its 495,000 millionaires.

However, the credit crunch and turmoil in world financial markets slowed the millionaire club's growth rate last year and is expected to affect this year as well.

Wealth in Australia has been generated in several ways, says Thomas Alexy, Merrill Lynch's head of global wealth in Australia. Certainly, the booming demand for commodities has helped, he says.

"But the wealth comes in a lot of shapes and forms."

Apart from the handful of lottery winners, the prerequisite for building wealth is either being successfully self-employed, having a job with a high income or receiving an inheritance.

Yet plenty squander their income without having much to show for it.

Those with discipline who get good advice and take full advantage of Australia's quite generous tax system for borrowing to invest tend to do the best, Alexy says.

He says successful long-term investors are those who preserve their capital with good asset allocation and "never try to hit the big home run".

Andrew Inwood, the founder of brandmanagement, which conducts market research for the financial services industry, estimates that one in four of Australia's millionaires was born overseas.

"Migrants with money used to be mostly from Europe but are now from Asia and even the Middle East and Africa," Inwood says.

He says another striking feature of Australia's millionaires is that about three-quarters own their own small or medium-sized businesses and more than 70 per cent are tertiary educated.

PATIENCE

Doug Turek, the founder of high-end financial planning firm Professional Wealth, says wealth is driven by age, income and a few habits or traits - the main one being patience.

"Barring a few dotcom or iron ore millionaires, it is very hard to accumulate assets quickly; you need time for these things to build. It doesn't necessarily matter if your investment focus is strictly shares or direct property, or a mix of those things or even building a business. The key is having a disciplined focus over a long period of time."

Turek has developed an online survey (www.wealthbenchmarkets.com.au) where people enter their financial details anonymously and in return are told how their wealth compares with others of the same age and income.

More than 90 per cent of the participants in the survey are male. "Males seem to be picking up higher income roles than females," Turek says.

"There is plenty of other research to show that women, because of their time out of the workforce and inequalities in roles and promotion, are not as wealthy as men."

However, Turek says the marked predominance of wealthy males in his online survey may be partly because men are more comfortable than females in sharing their financial information, even though it is given anonymously.

"It is a male-dominated wealthy world," he says.

One of the key determinants of wealth is the family situation. "Being together and not divorced is a very strong success indicator because of the tremendous financial costs of separation over a lifetime," Turek says. "If you have been divorced, your net worth will only grow to three-quarters of those who are not."

PENNY PINCHERS

Inwood, whose company recently conducted a focus group with wealthy people, says some millionaires enjoy an extravagant lifestyle but most are modest in their spending. They tend not to spend that much on clothes and holidays, and are generally "tight" with money but will spend on quality things.

Turek says working overseas is also good for building wealth. "We have found that those that have spent time working overseas have a higher net worth than those who have not.

"You can think of professionals who have worked for a law firm in London or for an investment bank. Then there are those who have grown up in another culture and economy, and have come to Australia as a wealthy migrant."

It is not only those on particularly high incomes that have become wealthy.

Inwood uses a lower threshold for the definition of a high-net-worth individual than many other researchers. His definition is those with assets of more than $450,000 outside of their homes and superannuation. Recent research by brandmanagement shows that about half of them earn less than $100,000 a year.

They are those in their 50s and 60s, the baby boomer generation who have enjoyed rising house prices during the 1990s and 2000s and have good savings and investment habits. Home ownership has given them a springboard to borrow and invest.

Now that house prices are much higher than when the baby boomers first got onto the property ladder, it remains to be seen whether younger generations will fare as well.

SOURCE: John Collett - The Age



Mon, 28 July 2008
7 Cash Flow Steps to a Healthy Budget
The word budget can strike fear into even the strongest of people. If there is one thing very few people are ready for when they leave the safety of home for the first time it is dealing with money. There are not too many people who even know how to balance their chequebook after they open their first chequeing account. So creating a budget can be a scary proposition for anyone who isn't good at keeping track of their money.

But if we look at a budget in a different light then maybe it will be easier to live with what it is. And all it is is a cash flow plan. All a budget does is track where the money is flowing from and where it is flowing to. Cash flow; it's what makes the world go around.

Here are 7 steps you can use to plan your cash flow and before you know it you'll have built a budget. Start with a piece of paper and a pencil; you can save those fancy budgeting software packages for later.

1. Write down your monthly income. If you are a salaried worker this should be easy. If your income is not that steady then add up the past three months worth of income and average it by dividing by three. This will give you a good starting point.

2. Start writing down all your monthly expenses. Mortgage, rent, car payment, credit card payments, utilities, groceries, eating out, entertainment, and anything else you spend money on. For those expenses that fluctuate, such as groceries and gas, use the three month average method to get an accurate amount.

3. Here's the scary part for most people. Subtract the expenses from the income and see what's left. You will either have a positive cash flow or negative cash flow. Unfortunately in this day of increasing debt most people have a negative cash flow.

4. Once you have your monthly cash flow laid out in front of you you can start assigning your money to your expenses. As you make those payments throughout the month write them down to see how your spending lines up with what you have budgeted for that particular item.

5. If you have a negative cash flow then you can start looking at everything you have written down and find areas where your spending may not be in the best interest of you financial goals. As you do this you can free up money for more important financial considerations.

6. The first time you do a cash flow plan it probably won't work out quite right. It normally takes about three months to get everything working right while you figure out where your money has been going every month. Be patient with your budget and before long it will start working and you will regain control of your money.

7. Once you are comfortable with your written budget and you have better control of where your money goes and what it does then consider investing in some budget software such as Quicken. It can make your cash flow plan much easier and with the added features like retirement and tax planning it can give you a solid financial future.

By using these 7 cash flow steps you can begin your budget quickly and easily. Only by taking back control of your money can you improve your financial future for you and your family.

Written by:Andrew Bicknell

Tue, 05 August 2008
Cosmetic Surgery Loans for Tattoo Removal
There are two reasons that many people who are thinking about laser tattoo removal decide not to go ahead with the procedure. The first reason is that they are afraid of the pain associated with tattoo removal. The second is that they are afraid that they can’t afford the cost of tattoo removal. While both of these are valid concerns, they shouldn’t limit you from getting tattoo removal if you really do want to get rid of those tattoos.

Cosmetic surgery loans are one option that many people are starting to consider for managing the cost of paying for tattoo removal. Tattoo removal is considered by many places to be a form of cosmetic surgery. This makes sense since it is a treatment which is done to cosmetically improve the appearance of the individual. Cosmetic surgery loans offer payment plans that let you create a manageable budget for affording your laser tattoo removal.

As for the pain … if you were able to tolerate the physical discomfort of getting the tattoo, you can probably bear the pain associated with tattoo removal. More importantly, you should weigh the pain of removal with the pain of keeping the tattoo. People get tattoos removed because they cause emotional pain and because they cause problems with moving forward in careers. The pain of removing the tattoo is only temporary but this other pain can last forever.

Source:http://www.tattoohealth.org

Mon, 11 August 2008
Tattoo Art Tips : How to Take Care of a New Tattoo
If you finally decide to get a tattoo you will go to a recommended tattoo artist. He will probably show you some designs to pick from. If you don't like any of them you can ask him to do a custom one. Be careful when choosing the design of your new tattoo because you will live with it all your life. anyway, after getting a tattoo done you should know some aftercare tips that cannot be ignored.

If you go to a good tattoo shop than the tattooist will clean and apply antiseptic ointment to the tattoo while creating it. This is the healthiest way to make a tattoo.

After the job is finished the artist will clean it and use another coat of ointment. Then will apply a piece of cellophane or soft tissue.

After all that is done the tattooist will explain you how to take care of your new tattoo or he will give you a sheet with detailed instructions. in case none of this happens i will explain you in the rest of this article what you should do.

1. First of all, when you get home, don't jump immediately in the shower. My advice is to keep it dry(but also clean). Be sure to wash your hands very well before touching the new tattoo. This way you won't have any complications or infections.

2. Next, go to the first drug store you find and buy a tube of A&D Ointment. Apply it on the tattoo the first four too six days. After it gets dry remove the old application with a piece of soft cloth and then apply another one. Be very careful not to rub too hard the new tattoo. Do not use soap in the first few day, it's not recommended.

3. After few days you can stop using the A&D Ointment. Try to use some kind unscented, unmedicated body lotion, as some scents may irritate the still-tender skin of your tattoo.

4. After you have applied the body lotion for around week you can stop doing that. A problem is that when the tattoo heals it will scab in some portions. When you will try to pick this cabs be very careful not to damage your tattoo design. So the best for you and your tattoo is to let it heal alone.

So after you get a new tattoo and fallow this after car instructions you can be sure that you won't have any problems. I use this methods my self and i can sincerly recommend it.

Source:http://www.besttattooes.com

Mon, 18 August 2008
Which Credit Card is Right for You
If you're in the market for a new credit card, there is a bewildering array of cards to choose from. There are even more incentive offers, so how can you decide on the card that is best for you? Here are some of the factors to consider.

What Kind Of Payer Are You?

The most crucial question is whether you are a person who clears the credit card every month or whether you always leave a balance on the credit card.

If you pay up at the end of every month, then you can go for a credit card that offers an incentive. If not, then you need to look at the annual percentage rate (APR) on the card. If you know what your typical credit card balance is, look at the illustrations given by card issuers to give a guide to how much you might have to repay over time.

Taking An Interest

Even with interest rates, you need to be careful. Although your new credit card may come with a 0% balance transfer rate, this is not the only rate to think about. Look at the rate on purchases or other transactions to see what you might be paying. And remember that any payments you make are likely to pay off the transferred balance first, while any new spending accrues interest.

Compare Credit Cards

Want to know which card is right for you? Why not check out our credit card comparison page to view a table comparing features and benefits of some of the most popular cards. Click here.

Hand in hand with the interest rate goes the interest-free period. This is the delay between spending money on the credit card and being charged interest. This can vary considerably depending on the card you choose. The interest free period can be as much as 56 days. And it's how you use it that counts. If you put major spending on the credit card after the statement date, you have a month till the next statement, and then a few weeks to make the payment. This can be a good way of managing cash flow.

Look At The Fees

There are three types of fees that count with credit cards. The first is the cash withdrawal fee. Many credit card issuers charge you for withdrawing cash at an ATM. These fees can be around 2% of the transaction. The percentage is even higher when withdrawing cash abroad. If you must use the credit card, then you're better off making one large withdrawal so you don't pay the minimum fee each time.

Getting Some Cash Back

Some credit cards offer annual cashback deals which are great for people who clear their balance every month, but not so good for others. If you don't clear your balance, the interest charged will wipe out any cashback gains. There are also reward points schemes that allow cardholders to earn money from their spending – and spend it again with a variety of high street and online retailers.

Paying attention to these items will help you to choose a credit card that will match your financial situation.

Source:Amanda Cherry

Fri, 29 August 2008
Where To Look When You Want To Buy A Tattoo
One important thing to take into consideration when you decide that you are ready to buy a tattoo is to know and fully understand the meaning of the tattoo and the feeling that you will get from having it. For some people, choosing the right design can be a cumbersome task, especially if you are thinking of getting a design that has something to do with your personal life. A tattoo is a permanent thing, so you really have to think hard about the type of tattoo that you want , otherwise you might just regret it in the end. You do not want to pay more for the removal of the design that you have chosen than you did for the tattoo itself. Therefore, it is vital to consider several factors when you decide that you are ready for a tattoo.

When it comes to the time for you to buy your tattoo, ask the tattoo artist about the latest trends as well as the well known tattoo designs, and you might want to ask which designs are the most popular. The more famous tattoo designs are there because Hollywood stars and rock stars have them, and we associate particular tattoos with those particular stars.

The popularity of the tattoo design is not the only aspect that you have to consider when you decide to buy a tattoo; your budget is another thing. How much money are you willing to spend on the tattoo? The price of the tattoo depends on colour, size, complexity and quality of design, as well as the knowledge and skill of the tattoo artist. The care of your tattoo also costs.

When it comes to deciding on a tattoo design, do not be influenced merely by the rising trend at that particular time, because the popularity of the design is not the best way to choose your dream tattoo design. Think again, and ask yourself what kind of design you really want tattooed on your skin. If you are still unsure, you can buy tattoo designs in the tattoo stores, both online and offline.

When you have finally decided, then now is the time for you to look for the best tattoo artist. Finding a good and qualified tattoo artist is as tricky as buying a good tattoo design. The best way to find out if they are competent is to shop around or ask your friends for good recommendations as far as the level of the skills of the artist. Even better is to observe the tattoo artist as to how they perform and how they do the designs. The bottom line is if you are in the market for a tattoo, do not settle for less. You know that you deserve something more. When choosing your tattoo design, make sure that you are the only one who is sporting it if you want to be unique. If you happen to like a certain design and other people already have it, you can ask your tattoo artist to make some changes to the art line and then it will look different and still be unique.

By: Naisarasri Sri

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com



Tue, 16 September 2008
Girl Tattoo Design: What Designs Mean
A girl tattoo design differs greatly from men's designs. With women's tattoo, you can't just pick a design based solely on your personal preference. The first thing you have to look into is the tattoo meaning. A tattoo may look cool, cute or exquisite but you wouldn't want to get stuck with a tattoo that isn't significant to you. In worse cases, some people get stuck with tattoos that have negative meanings. Here are some designs that you might want to consider:

- Floral tattoos represent femininity. You should be careful though because different flowers may have different meanings. Roses for example can have a variety of significances ranging from love to infidelity depending on the flower color.

Stars are also popular as female tattoo designs. They can however also carry a variety of meanings. Nautical stars typically give off the message of purpose and direction or the love for the sea. Other star designs are simply reflective of childish fantasies or hopes and wishes.

- Female's lower back would look awesome with tribal designs. A horizontal swirl of tribal designs can accentuate the sexy curves of a woman's back. Be careful though. Some tribal designs are created by artists with no particular meaning. Others however are taken from real tribes like the Maori, Polynesian and Native American tribes. Your girl tattoo design may carry a particular tribal significance that you may not be aware of.

- There are also tattoo designs with more obvious meanings. Angels and crosses for example could communicate religious faith.

- Foreign alphabets and characters are also another favorite design for girl's tattoos. You can have a Japanese or Chinese character that stands for love, friendship, power and many more. It is very important though that you get artists who can really read these characters. You can also opt for translators who can help you with making the design. It is not uncommon for foreign characters to have a few missing parts here and there and end up meaning something else.

- Animal designs can also be for females. Sleek felines like a puma, cheetah or leopard would look great on women who want to exude strength and empowerment. Butterflies however are an absolute favorite due to their delicate features.

- Another female tattoo category are fantasy designs. They seem to have become even more popular these days because of famous fantasy shows and movies. Typical fantasy designs are fairies and unicorns. Other designs however may carry a more powerful meaning. The phoenix for example almost always means rebirth and rising from the ashes again.

- You could also have your own designs. Some artists would be more than willing to come up with designs that stem from your own personal experience. A personal code between you and a significant other and the face of your baby are some examples. This is the safest tattoo design option because you are sure of what it means. On the other hand, a tattoo artist may charge extra for the design. Making the design may also take some time.

Your girl tattoo design should be your personal choice. It is important to remember though that you should know exactly why you would want a particular design. The significance of your tattoo matters a lot. It contributes to the impact of your tattoo.

By: Reese Lanter



Wed, 24 September 2008
Cosmetic Surgery Loans: Money For Changing The Way You Look
The images of a well toned, perfect body of celebrities everywhere has revolutionized the viewpoint of everyone. Every man wants to look his best. Every woman wants to look beautiful, attractive. The rising popularity of cosmetic breast surgery in UK is a confirmation of this fact. Cosmetic surgery loans can finance your endeavor to get beautiful now.

These loans are also meeting money requirement of surgical process such as dentistry, liposuction, breast lift, tattoo removal, reconstructive surgery, wrinkle removal, laser hair removal, etc.

Before applying for these loans, you need to do proper research work. Prior knowledge of the cost of the treatment is required in order to know which loan option would be a feasible option for you to take. After assessing the cost of the cosmetic surgery, you can decide which loan option would be better for you. If the cost for a cosmetic surgery is low then an unsecured cosmetic surgery loan would be a viable deal for you to take.

With an unsecured loan type, you don’t have to put your property as collateral. So, generally, a lot of time is saved while processing. Apart from this, less paper work makes the entire loan process easy.

If you want to borrow a higher loan amount for a cosmetic surgery then you can opt for a secured loan type. With this loan, you need to put your home as collateral and you may be offered a principal amount according to the equity present in your home.

The benefits with such loans are that you will be charged lower interest rates, and you would be given a longer repayment term to repay the loan amount.

You can easily find cosmetic surgery loans the online way. You can get quotes from different lenders and choose one that is convenient and economical.

By: Sam Goodliff



Mon, 29 September 2008
Cosmetic Tattoo Procedure For Permanent Eyebrows
Although sometimes cosmetic eyebrow tattooing is a necessary step in the reconstruction of a face following a traumatic accident, it can also be used for patients who have sparse eyebrows and do not want to apply brow liner daily. Most of the time, these patients are women who are concerned about the way that their eyebrows frame their face. Some patients are allergic to cosmetics or have poor eyesight and cannot apply their makeup correctly. In these and other cases, cosmetic eyebrow tattooing is a viable option. Sometimes the tattoo is a permanent tattoo done purely for cosmetic purposes.

Eyebrow Tattoo Surgery - Finding a Surgeon

Finding a licensed and qualified technician to perform the cosmetic eyebrow tattooing may be difficult for a patient. Many people may claim to be qualified to do the procedure, when in fact their experience lies mostly in body tattoos. It is a subtle art that makes a technician able to do cosmetic eyebrow tattooing well and it also takes a fair amount of experience to make permanent eyebrows look natural. A patient can speak with friends and colleagues to see if anyone knows of someone who is reputable. If the patient wishes to be more discreet, then they can contact a plastic surgeon’s office or the local academy of plastic surgeons to see who they recommend.

Ideal Candidates for Eyebrow Tattoo Surgery

The ideal candidate for cosmetic eyebrow tattooing is one that is in good health and has realistic expectations of the procedure. The cosmetic eyebrow procedure will not return the area to a completely normal look, but will make the overall appearance of the patient more refined and balanced. Patients who are allergic or sensitive to makeup, have skin or hair loss disorders, illnesses, or just lack the time to put on makeup are all considered good candidates for the cosmetic eyebrow tattooing.

Eyebrow Tattoo Surgery - Consultation

In the initial consultation, the physician and patient will discuss the probable outcomes of the cosmetic eyebrow tattooing. Many physicians will have former patient pictures available for the new patient to examine. This will give the patient a good idea as to what can be achieved by the cosmetic eyebrow tattoo technician. The doctor will examine the eyebrow area and determine what can be done with the cosmetic eyebrow tattooing. Risks and anesthesia options will also be discussed in the initial consultation. A complete medical history will be taken in order to inform the doctor of any medical conditions or prescriptions that might interfere with the results.

Eyebrow Tattoo Surgery - Procedure

The permanent makeup tattoo that is applied is made up of vegetable products that are injected into the skin. After an anesthetic ointment is applied, tiny needles are used to inject the coloring and are sometimes seen on a rotary coil instrument. The tip is dipped into the dye and then the needle is placed into the skin in cosmetic eyebrow tattooing. Some bleeding may occur as the skin is punctured, but it will be minimal. Most cosmetic eyebrow tattooing procedures last an hour, but it depends on the extent of the work that needs to be done. At the end of the session, the area will be cleaned and an antiseptic cream will be applied. Eyebrow tattooing requires fine work to look good. To achieve this, the tattoos are often applied by hand rather than with electric needles. The technician can achieve much finer and pleasing results by hand, but this also makes the procedure longer.

Eyebrow Tattoo Surgery - Risks

Although the risks associated with cosmetic eyebrow tattooing are rare, they do occur. In very few cases, the patient can have an allergic reaction to the dye that is used. Infection is another main concern following the cosmetic eyebrow tattooing. Not following the physician’s orders after the cosmetic eyebrow tattooing procedure can lead to a delay in healing and cause unwanted results. If a patient is unhappy with the results of the cosmetic eyebrow tattooing, laser skin resurfacing may help to remove the coloring, but may not be able to remove it entirely.

By: Brad Jones



Mon, 06 October 2008
Breast Reduction: Medical And Cosmetic Reasons
For those who aren't blessed with an ample bosom, the very idea of breast reduction surgery sounds crazy. You've probably had a friend respond to your complaints with, "I'll take them, if you don't want them".

But, you know that if you really did trade with her, she'd realize that being big-chested isn't as fabulous as she thought it would be. There are a lot of motivating factors in reducing bust size - some are purely cosmetic, but there are also very real health reasons.

- Medical Reasons for Breast Reduction

Back problems are a common complaint from women with large breasts, particularly if the body frame is not in proportion to the chest size. Imagine trying to hold your body upright all day long with twenty pounds hanging off the front and throwing you off balance.

It is very stressful to the entire lower and middle back. Neck problems are also associated with a large chest. Again, you have this weight pulling down on your upper back, shoulders and neck. This can lead to strained muscles and chronic headaches.

Another health issue is the inability to perform activities. A large chest makes it more difficult to do certaing types of exercise, particularly cardio. So, you may be more inclined to lead a sedentary life which isn’t good for your cardiovascular health or for weight management. Imagine trying to jog with DDs in front of you. Not even an industrial strength jog bra could completely hold them still!

Finally, there are also psychological health reasons. Large breasts are hard to miss and if you have them, you are probably familiar with the stares, the leers and the assumptions people make about your character. They can wreak havoc on your self-esteem and keep you at home instead of socializing and enjoying life.

- Cosmetic Reasons for Breast Reduction

A common cosmetic reason for the procedure is asymmetry. It is common for one breast to be a little larger than the other, but sometimes is very noticeable. This procedure is used if there is a significant difference in the sizes. It is also used to achieve the same shape.

The sheer size is another cosmetic reason. You may not be comfortable with how you look in your clothes or you can't wear the clothes you want. You avoid the latest styles and tank tops because they just amplify the size of your chest. Overall, you feel uncomfortable in your clothes and tend to wear baggier tops to try and camouflage them.

Finally, gravity is not your friend. Very large breasts fall prey to sagging much sooner than smaller ones. The fat and tissue weigh them down and stretch out the skin. This can also leave stretch marks on your chest. If this has already happened, you will likely need a reduction as well as a lift to correct the effects of gravity.

Whatever reason is motivating you to seek breast reduction surgery, make sure you research your plastic surgeon. Verify that he is a board certified and licensed plastic surgeon and find out what kind of experience he has with this particular procedure. Go in to your consultation with a clear idea of what you want and you can decide together how to achieve it. You don't have to let large breasts hinder your life.

By: A Aaronson



Thu, 16 October 2008
Latest 3-d tattoos; hitting the fashion world all over
Modern scenario is the scenario of fashion. Here every thing is changing so fast and same as the human wants. In the present era each and every individual wants to look smart and elegant. In other words every person wants to be fashionable. In order to look fashionable they always try to look for new trends. Now day’s tattoos are in fashion in all over the world. Especially tattoo are most common in young age guys. By the use of tattoo any one can make his body attractive. In the market of latest tattoo daily the new trends are launching. In order of new trends of tattoo one tattoo is becoming most popular among the boys and that is latest 3-D tattoo design. This is the new design off tattoo. And I am dam sure that you have not seen these tattoos before. This new 3- D tattoo design is designed specially for boys. Because it is so different from other traditional designs of tattoos. It looks more realistic than others. These tattoo designs are very easy to apply on body. And it can be apply in different parts of body but it looks best on shoulder and back.

This 3-D design looks more real and attractive. Tattoo is a design; it can be either non-permanent or permanent. Permanent tattoo are having its ancient history .that time human being used it for spiritual and religious reason .as it is mentioned above that fashions and tends are changing before the time so non permanent tattoos are becoming most popular this time. . The tattoo is stick on dry skin, while a piece of wet cloth is applied to the paper backing to remove it and later the tattoo can be washed off.

In today’s scenario when whole world is applying tattoo on there body. Either they are model or celebrity or college guys or teenager every one is trying different tattoo on there body for different occasion. So get styled by applying latest tattoo on your body.

Source: Latest Tattoo

Thu, 23 October 2008
Sanskrit Tattoo Designs: Sexy Tattoo Designs On The Lower Back For Women
For much of Western history, only men had tattoos. But this is the modern age of women's equality - anything a man can do, so can a woman. More and more women are starting to get tattoos. Lower back tattoos are especially popular. Peeking out from under the jeans or bikini, both men and women find them exceptionally sexy.

Flower tattoo designs are the most popular for the lower back. However, other subtle and delicate tattoo images are also starting to gain in popularity, for example Sanskrit tattoo designs and dreamcatcher tattoo designs.

Sanskrit Tattoo Designs For The Lower Back

Creative tattoo artists have fused the popular flower tattoos with Sanskrit tattoo designs to create some very beautiful, stylish images. The lotus flower, together with the "Om" symbol are starting to become popular.

Lotus flowers are important symbols in India. They close every night and sink under the water, then re-emerge the next morning to bloom again. The lotus flower is symbolic of the cycle of creation and destruction of the world. It also signifies the purity of one's heart, mind and soul.

In the Hindu creation myth, the god of Creation, Brahma was born from a lotus blossom which sprang from the navel of Vishnu, the god who maintains and preserves the world. Brahma and Vishnu are two of the three highest gods, the Trimurti. Shiva is the third, the god of Destruction.

The Om symbol has long been used as the prime chant in many systems of meditation. Mystics and spiritualists consider Om to be one of the primal sounds of Creation.

When used together with the Om symbol in Sanskrit tattoo designs, the lotus flower is often drawn in a stylized manner, mainly inked in shades of blue, red and orange.

Dreamcatcher Tattoo Designs

Like Sanskrit tattoos, the dreamcatcher tattoo is a modern adaptation of an ancient, cultural tradition. The dreamcatcher comes from the American Indian tribe of the Chippewa, who tie strands of sinew in a web-like design around a small round or teardrop shaped frame. They hang the dreamcatcher as a charm to protect young children from nightmares.

Dreamcatcher tattoo designs first became popular in the pan-Indian movement of the 1960's and 70's, then went out of fashion. Today, these beautiful and delicate designs are making their comeback.

Lower Back Tattoos

Lower back tattoo designs are usually placed in the small of the back or on the upper part of the buttocks. When choosing the small of the back, some women prefer to have smaller tattoos offset to one side, avoiding the bony area of the spine. Many people find that tattoos around the spine sting more than tattoo in more fleshy areas of the body.

Women who are shy should avoid getting tattoos in the upper buttock area. The tattoo artist needs room to work, so the recipient cannot wear any underwear.

Flowers, especially roses, and tribal tattoo designs are still very popular for mid-sized lower back tattoos. Besides Sanskrit designs and dreamcatchers, the Celtic cross is also becoming popular with women.

By: Tim Newton

Article Directory:



Wed, 29 October 2008
Cosmetic Surgery Loans: Money For Changing The Way You Look
The images of a well toned, perfect body of celebrities everywhere has revolutionized the viewpoint of everyone. Every man wants to look his best. Every woman wants to look beautiful, attractive. The rising popularity of cosmetic breast surgery in UK is a confirmation of this fact. Cosmetic surgery loans can finance your endeavor to get beautiful now.

These loans are also meeting money requirement of surgical process such as dentistry, liposuction, breast lift, tattoo removal, reconstructive surgery, wrinkle removal, laser hair removal, etc.

Before applying for these loans, you need to do proper research work. Prior knowledge of the cost of the treatment is required in order to know which loan option would be a feasible option for you to take. After assessing the cost of the cosmetic surgery, you can decide which loan option would be better for you. If the cost for a cosmetic surgery is low then an unsecured cosmetic surgery loan would be a viable deal for you to take.

With an unsecured loan type, you don’t have to put your property as collateral. So, generally, a lot of time is saved while processing. Apart from this, less paper work makes the entire loan process easy.

If you want to borrow a higher loan amount for a cosmetic surgery then you can opt for a secured loan type. With this loan, you need to put your home as collateral and you may be offered a principal amount according to the equity present in your home.

The benefits with such loans are that you will be charged lower interest rates, and you would be given a longer repayment term to repay the loan amount.

You can easily find cosmetic surgery loans the online way. You can get quotes from different lenders and choose one that is convenient and economical.

By: Sam Goodliff



Tue, 04 November 2008
Capital Letter Tattoos: An Alternative Tattoo Lettering Design
Name tattoos are the kings of the tattoo lettering world, but some choose to be more subtle and less in-your-face by just using the initials of their names. Some even just use the first letter. That’s how capital letter tattoos came about. It is now a sub genre of the entire tattoo lettering motif.

A lone letter as a tattoo design might seem pretty plain on the get-go, but tattoo lettering itself began primarily with the inking the initials of a person or group anyway. The secret to making a capital letter tattoo spectacular is to pull out all the stops in embellishment. The influx of countless new fonts in the English alphabet and the gradual evaporation of language barriers make tattoo lettering, especially capital letter tattoos, all the more interesting and popular.

People can choose tattoo lettering in different fonts and in different languages like Latin, Old English, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, spanish, tribal etc. There are gazillions of flash tattoo lettering designs available to choose from. If you decide on a capital letter tattoo in a foreign language, make sure it is sketched properly. Countercheck with a native speaker or expert to verify your drawing.

Regardless of what font or language you choose for the capital letter tattoo design, it helps to give it a little embellishment. An extra flick of the pen or an added stroke here and there could mean all the difference between a plain and beautiful capital letter tattoo. After all, letters have been elaborated for over a thousand years. That’s what calligraphy is all about, and you would do well to go over the many different calligraphic styles of the language of your choice. The illuminated manuscripts are a marvelous example of the kinds of drawings that can be created with a capital letter as a basis.

A tattoo lettering design can also be decorated with selected images or drawings. The combination of your tattoo lettering design of choice and a picture reflects your style and aesthetic preferences. Supplementing your capital letter tattoo with a drawing can come from either a stock image or from scratch, depending on the look you’re aiming for. The key, however, is to choose images that would match the motif of the tattoo lettering and would be proportional to the size of the tattoo itself. For instance, an Easter dragon design will go with Chinese script tattoos. Japanese character tattoos can go along with a sketch of a koi fish. For Celtic tattoo lettering, the capital letter would look great when framed in intricate Celtic knots.

While embellishing you capital letter tattoo with an image certainly adds oomph to the overall design, it doesn’t have to always be the case like an unwritten rule. You can add life to your capital letter tattoo by the ornate style of the calligraphy used and the color template of the entire design. The bottom line is a tattoo doesn't have to have a picture. Initials can show and mean a lot as well.

By: Romeo Rodriguez



Sat, 08 November 2008
Which Is The Right Tattoo For You?
Planning to have one or more tattoos done? If so, your first thought is probably about where and how to find the right picture. Which tattoo or tattoos will look best on you? Well, a lot depends on which part of your body will display the tattoo, the size of the tattoo, and the kind of impression you want it to make.

Fortunately, you have a great source of tattoo designs at your fingertips. That's right - the Internet. There are literally tons of online tattoo galleries where you can view graphics of lower back tattoos, arm tattoos, etc. Clear out your diary and spend a few hours looking around. When you see a design you like, print it. Also, keep track of the tattoo artists behind the tattoos you see. You may be in luck - if they live and operate locally, you may be able to hire them to personally scratch your tattoos. Meanwhile, I also advise visiting a few highly regarded tattoo shops and looking through their scratch books. These are books of various tattoo designs.

It's one thing to peruse a flash book; it's another to settle on a tattoo design. You may, in fact, want an original design. For example, you may want the tattoo artist to scratch an image that you've seen somewhere... or you may even want the tattoo artist to use their creativity to adapt an existing image (or tattoo) design for your use. In either case, discuss your ideas with your tattoo artist to find out what they suggest, as well as what they're skilled to do.

Remember that just because you find some tattoo art that looks great in a book or on someone else, it doesn't mean it will suit you. A picture of a snake slithering up your arm may be more or less attractive depending on the width and relative length of your arm. Also think of how certain colors will look on your skin. Since your tattoo is going to be with you forever (unless you wish to remove it via an agonizing procedure that will likely leave unattractive scars!) take your time and carefully consider your options.

If, after considerable research and discussing your options with a trusted tattoo artist, you've established the image you want... you're all set to go. The only remaining consideration is making certain that the tattoo shop is clean and that all tools used are sterile. Getting a tattoo scratched onto your skin is a surgical procedure and should be performed as cleanly and hygienically as any other such procedure. Hopefully, that won't be an issue and you should emerge from the tattoo shop with some fantastic looking body art.

Source:By Expert Author: Harley Davis

Tue, 25 November 2008
Cosmetic Tattoo
Skin Deep Cosmetic Beauty: Permanent Makeup and Eyebrow Design

The importance of eyebrows as a powerful beauty asset is often overlooked. Eyebrows can be shaped to pull together all of the elements of the face into balance, giving your best features glory and the flaws respectful supporting roles. People with thin, partial or no eyebrows often choose to use pencil or powder to create their eyebrows daily and even multiple times daily since this makeup tends to smudge or disappear. Many of these people are ending that daily ritual with permanent makeup.

Permanent makeup, also known as cosmetic tattoo or micro pigmentation, is used to create a variety of changes in the face. Eyebrow enhancement is an extremely popular permanent makeup procedure.

Eyebrow Design Need Only Be Done Once

In her book Bobbi Brown Beauty, Ms. Brown writes, "....a well-groomed, well-defined brow can be extremely flattering and add considerable strength to a woman's eyes. It can open up her face so that she actually needs less makeup. A well-shaped brow can also help lift deep-set eyes or maximize small eyes. There are even instances where a lifted, manicured brow has had the same effect as a surgical eyelift." Good brows are rarely accomplished by guesswork. A permanent makeup artist must be adept in the art and the science of designing the shape, color and placement for beautiful symmetrical eyebrows that enhance through the decades. A well-chosen neutral eyebrow will flatter you through all your hair color changes. Adjustments in the color of your permanent makeup can be made, if necessary, when you have a touch up on it every one to five years.

Cosmetic Tattoo, A Versatile Solution

The causes of missing hair in the eyebrows are many-genes, illness, over-plucked, age related hair loss and physical trauma for instance. An inspired and talented cosmetic tattoo artist can work with the "landscape" of the brow area be it totally blank, scarred or deeply wrinkled. A lifting arch can be put into straight or droopy eyebrows, width into thin ones, length into short ones and symmetry into asymmetrical ones. Whatever the case may be, tattoo offers a precision that is difficult to obtain and keep with regular makeup. Tattooed eyebrows stay put whether the design is strong and precise or subtle and natural looking. Eyebrows can be applied in delicate hair strokes, a powder fill or a combination of the two, always using more than one color of pigment to create the illusion of dimension. As much as possible of one's natural brow hair is incorporated into the design. The solution of permanent eyebrows is used by men, as well as women.

Make A Statement

Eyebrows not only frame the eyes, but when shaped appropriately for a face they bring the entire face into focus, giving a person more presence. The eyebrow design may even serve to qualify that presence as, for instance, down-to-earth, glamorous, soft or assertive. In other words, eyebrows can influence the way people perceive you. In fact, eyebrows can influence the way you perceive yourself. Even when you know beauty is on the inside, you want to look your best. Confidence can change the impression you leave in all of your social and professional interaction. Positive, healthy self-esteem allows you to focus on important goals, instead of stress about looking old, tired or unattractive. Legendary makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin said, "the most dramatic thing you could do to change your look is to shape your eyebrows."

Always Plan Ahead

A permanent makeup procedure is a process that most commonly requires two sessions, usually three or four weeks apart for permanent eyebrows. In the first session the design is applied and in the second session color, shape and detail is refines.

Building the eyebrows in stages can minimize or eliminate altogether that oh-so-scary dark eyebrow stage. You need not feel self-conscious about your appearance at any point in the process. If you are planning to have surgery to lift the brow, eyes or full face complete the surgery and the healing process before adding permanent cosmetics to your face. When planning to have Botox, chemotherapy or radiation therapy get your cosmetic tattoos applied first. In regards to laser treatments, discuss these during your consultation.

About the author:

Dawn Willard's extensive career in the fine and applied arts has included lettering, illustrations photo/film styling and cosmetic tattoo. Ms. Willard currently owns The Permanent Makeup Studio in Asheville, North Carolina.





Wed, 10 December 2008
Tattoo Removal
Each year, thousands of people decide they no longer want their tattoo/s.



A tattoo is a grouping of ink and dye particles that are imbedded beneath the top layer of the skin. Because the body is not able to absorb such concentrated deposits of ink, it forms a protective layer of collagen around the tattoo, making it permanent.

There are three basic types of tattoos -



the decorative tattoo, which varies greatly from the type of ink used, to the colours and size, to the depth of the tattoo



the cosmetic tattoo, which incorporates permanent eyeliner, lip liner, or eyebrows



the "injury tattoo", created by a past accident or trauma, and includes dirt, pencil marks, etc. that have become permanently imbedded under the skin



Laser tattoo removal is a non-invasive procedure that can completely remove tattoos, leaving one's skin looking scarless and, most importantly, spotless.

Lasers send pulses of high energy light into the skin, fragmenting the tattoo ink into thousands of tiny particles. These tiny particles are small enough to be gradually absorbed and dispersed by the body. There is usually some slight discomfort during the treatment, although a local anaesthetic eliminates any pain. Since different lasers (that create different light colours) are needed to erase specific colours in a tattoo, multi-coloured tattoos require several treatments to completely erase.

The number of treatments required will depend on the type of ink and the depth of the ink. On average 3-6 treatments are required about one month apart.

Average Price Range: $100-$500 per session

Source: Cosmetic Surgery Australia .com



Sun, 28 December 2008
Tanning To Perfect Skin
Culturally, being tanned is considered beautiful. Exposed to images of bronzed and accessorized starlets, we associate a tan with glamour. Their tans ooze luxury and an interesting life. So, for our own sense of beauty, we seek to emulate that nearly perfect skin complexion and tone. And many of us are prepared to invest the time and effort to create the perfect glow in our own skin. Luckily, the relatively low cost of tanning salons and beauty treatments make it more accessible to those of us on more mortal budgets.

There are a lot of reasons to get a tan. Tans hide blemishes of the skin and disguise cellulite. They are a top accessory, and let us to wear a broader range of colors, better. We look healthier, and more relaxed, like we just returned from a holiday.

Developing a tan is another matter - unless you’re lucky enough to live in the tropics or are an avid gardener who spends hours in the sun. Just sun baking gets tedious very quickly, and is somewhat unreliable. It is impossible to control the intensity of the sun, hence we’re more likely to get burned than tanned, unless we have a good base tan to start with. And it can be difficult to find the time to lie in the sun. Compared to a session in a tanning bed, it can take hours and a lot of peeling to get a attractive tan.

Of course, there’s always the option of a tanning salon. But that has its’ drawbacks too. There’s the traveling time for a start, then you have to find time in your schedule in business hours. And there’s the fact that it wasn’t just your bare and sweaty body lying on that tanning bed. Whilst the antibacterial cleaners are good, there’s nothing like having your own tanning bed for peace of mind.

Having Treatments in the Privacy of your Home

Residential tanning beds are probably the epitome of convenience when it comes to tanning. They are surprisingly affordable in the long run too. As long as you’re sensible and don’t overdo do it in the excitement of having your own tanning bed available 24/7, you can maintain a great color too. And that’s without having to spend hours lying on the beach. Most tanning beds have facial tanners that you can use to lightly tan your face without exposing it too much. And if you add up how much you would spend at the tanning salon over the average life span of a residential tanning bed, its easy to see how it would pay for itself.



Wed, 21 January 2009
Tattoo Care and Advice
If you're getting ready to go get your first tattoo, here are a few things you should know:

Since tattoos are a healing surface wound, you really should to avoid hot tubs, swimming pools and soaking in bathubs of water during the healing period. Before the surface heals, the skin is susceptible to infection and public pools and water are easy sources of bacteria. Also, the soaking can cause the scab to come off too soon, which can also hurt your new tattoo. So don't go get tattooed the day before that beach vacation or cruise!

Make sure you get a good night's sleep the night before your tattoo appointment and be sure to eat a good meal a hour or two ahead of time. The process of enduring being tattooed is more tiring than most people would imagine and it often stresses the body the same way vigorous activity does, even though you aren't being highly active.

Do not drink alcohol or take aspirin before you get tattooed. Both of these thin the blood and can cause you to bleed heavily during the tattoo process.

If you are going to be tattooed for a long time, make sure you have a way of getting home that is safe, or have someone else drive you. Some people become disoriented or a bit fuzzy-headed after long tattoo sessions due to the endorphin rush.

If you have any allergies to antibiotic ointments, latex or petroleum products, be sure to tell your tattoo artist BEFORE they start to do any work on you. That way they can make sure any equipment or products they might use on you will be safe

Source: By relache

Tue, 17 March 2009
TATTOO FACTS & STATISTICS
Emerging from their often unsavoury reputation of the recent past, tattoos have gained increasing prominence in the past decade. Life magazine estimated in 1936 that 10 million Americans, or approximately 6% of the population had at least one tattoo. A Harris Poll, done in 2003, nearly triples those numbers and estimates that 16% of Americans now have one or more tattoos. For a complete breakdown of the Harris Poll numbers, see below.

Thirty-six percent of those ages 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those ages 26 to 40, have at least one tattoo, according to a fall 2006 survey by the Pew Research Center. (see pdf of tattoo poll numbers)

The National Geographic News stated in April 2000 that 15% of Americans were tattooed (or approximately 40 million people!)

Esquire Magazine estimated in March 2002 that 1 in 8 Americans was tattooed.

According to the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, they stated in 2005, that of all the people they treat with laser and light therapy, only only 6% are getting a tattoo removed.

Harris Poll, 2003, estimates that fully 36% of those aged 25-29 have one or more tattoos.

A 2006 a study done by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 24% of Americans between 18 and 50 are tattooed; that's almost one in four. And the survey showed that about 36% of Americans age 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo!

Make no mistake about it, the tattoo industry is hot property. There are an estimated 20,000+ parlors operating in the United States, according to a U.S. News & World Report article, which said, on the average, an establishment is being added in the country every day. The article ranked tattooing as the sixth fastest growing retail venture of the 1990s, right behind Internet, paging services, bagels, computer and cellular phone service

Source: Vanishing Tattoo.com

Fri, 12 June 2009
Choosing a Bodypart
Deciding where to place your tattoo is very important for a few reasons. Your main concern should be esthetics, meaning the way it looks on your body. However, depending on how well you do with pain, you might want to consider placement in relation to how bad it hurts in a specific place. If you cannot take the pain and need to stop, or change the design, that looks much worse than if you had put it in a different location.



When choosing a place for your tattoo, you should first analyze what type of tattoo you are getting, and what type of person you are. Males and females generally get different places tattooed, according to society's ideas of femininity and masculinity. So if you are getting a small feminine tattoo, you probably don't want to place it on your bicep. And if you are getting a burly masculine tribal, you probably won't get it on your lower back.



Stereotypically, males usually go for the arms, shoulder, upper back and chest pieces, while females go for the ankles, feet, lower stomach/crotch area, lower back, upper back shoulder area, and back of neck. Of course, these are just basic ideas, if we were to keep all our tattoos separated by gender like this we would all look the same.



Keep in mind what the design looks like when choosing the spot. Sometimes a female will want a feminine flowing type tattoo that doesn't stay in just one area. One that I just saw started on a girls hip went up her back, onto her shoulder, down her arm, and ended on her hand. Yet, because it was a thin, light, flowing design, it was very feminine and did an excellent job of accentuating her bodys shape and curves. That is very important in the eyes of most women, they want the tattoo to fit their body to make it look better, and not just place a piece of art on it randomly. A womans curves can be major factors in the design process so have the artist keep that in mind.



For men, it might look best to fill an area of muscle with the tattoo, so if the design you choose doesn't quite fill the area, a little bit of colored or greywash background might make it fit better and look better placed.



A tattoo artist has stencils in order to place the design on your body. If you need them to move the design in any direction, let them know. You are not being a nuisance; they are obligated to make sure you are fully satisfied with the tattoo. After the stencil is placed on your body, you and your artist might discuss small additions in order to make it fit better, when it is a design, just color, or something traditional like clouds. These last additions would probably be drawn on with a marker, and this is where trusting your tattoo artist is important.



Source:http://www.tattooinfo.net

Thu, 13 August 2009
a brief history of tattoos
the word tattoo is said to has two major derivations- from

the polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something

and the tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something’.

the history of tattoo began over 5000 years ago and is as

diverse as the people who wear them.

tattoos are created by inserting colored materials beneath

the skins surface. the first tattoos probably were created

by accident. someone had a small wound, and rubbed it

with a hand that was dirty with soot and ashes from the fire.

once the wound had healed, they saw that a mark stayed

permanently.

despite the social sciences' growing fascination with tattooing,

and the immense popularity of tattoos themselves,

the practice has not left much of a historical record.

www.designboom.com

Tue, 13 October 2009

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Wed, 14 October 2009
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Wed, 14 October 2009

Bad Credit Loans Australia

Bad Credit Loans Australia

Wed, 14 October 2009

Australians make thousands of finance purchasing decisions on a daily basis. Personal loans are the most popular choice of credit simply because most people need fast access to finance at one time or another. It is quite evident that we live busy lifestyles in an ever changing world. The ability to apply for credit online is not only for the convenience but also for the speed at which approval is given. – Likely to be the same day. No more interviews or appointments with bankers or lenders just to get approval- Save time!

The process is simple. Applicants would only need to complete a simple online form to determine their eligibility. Competition among the lenders is fierce and they desperately want your business. Many offer lower interest rates and establishment costs so the borrower often gets the best deal without having to search for it themselves.

Once approved you can usually spend the loan money on anything you want. Here are just a few examples of what some people do:


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Wed, 14 October 2009
Loans- Even for Cosmetic Surgery
Finance & Loans-Do you need credit?

Australians make thousands of finance purchasing decisions on a daily basis. Personal loans are the most popular choice of credit simply because most people need fast access to finance at one time or another. It is quite evident that we live busy lifestyles in an ever changing world. The ability to apply for credit online is not only for the convenience but also for the speed at which approval is given. – Likely to be the same day. No more interviews or appointments with bankers or lenders just to get approval- Save time!

The process is simple. Applicants would only need to complete a simple online form to determine their eligibility. Competition among the lenders is fierce and they desperately want your business. Many offer lower interest rates and establishment costs so the borrower often gets the best deal without having to search for it themselves.

Once approved you can usually spend the loan money on anything you want. Here are just a few examples of what some people do:

Debt Consolidation- pays off credit cards & other loans

Car Loans- Purchase a New or Used Car

Cosmetic Surgery Procedures (Very Popular)

Household items-Furniture & Whitegoods

Home entertainment- Plasma & LCD Televisions (Extremely Popular)

Holidays-overseas or local travel

Study- School fees, books, HECS debt

Business Loans- Start new business, buy equipment

Boat Loans

Medical Bills

Unexpected Bills

The list is endless and only limited by your imagination. One important thing to remember is that “Personal Loans are available to people with Good or Bad credit history”.

Apply Online today & let us help you find the right personal loan for you.



Sat, 21 November 2009





Sat, 21 November 2009
Tattoo




Tue, 02 March 2010
Tattoo




Tue, 02 March 2010

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Tue, 02 March 2010

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