Getting fit is one of the top New Year’s resolutions. Here is a breakdown of how much mint.com users are spending on gym memberships. How does your state compare?

MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice

Spending money to watch TV is so 20^th century. Today, more and more people are chucking their cable and satellite TV service to watch their favorite shows and movies through the internet, in a process industry folks are calling “cord-cutting.”

In a bid to stay competitive in this growing market, Verizon, the old-landline-turned-cell-phone-turned-fiber-optic-cable-and-internet giant, is rumored to be sniffing around Netflix, the digital home movie giant. So, will such a tie-up save you money, or will it just end up costing you more dough down the road?

Americans are on Media Overload

It seems like we are on media overload. Adults now spend 11 hours and 33 minutes each day consuming media through a variety of sources, both digital and print, according to EMarketer. That’s half our day! It costs money to fuel this addiction to all things digital and it usually shows up in a myriad of bills each month – from your cell phone bill, to your cable bill, to your internet data bill for your new iPad.

The lines between all these media sources have started to blur over the years. Your telephone company may now also be your cable provider, while your cable provider might be your new internet provider. In an effort to save time and money, consumers are increasingly choosing to “bundle” all their media services into one clean package. The average consumer that chooses to bundle their telephone, internet and cable bills saves around $ 40 to $ 50 on their monthly bill, according to Centris.

Bundling Services vs. Cutting the Cord

Even with those savings, there is a growing number of Americans who still find cable to be too expensive. Bundled cable bills, after all taxes and fees, could be costing you anywhere between $ 100 and $ 150 a month. Add in your cell phone bill, say for your snazzy new iPhone, and you could easily be paying $ 250 a month on media each month.

Some consumers are choosing to ditch the bundle and cut the cords, relying on their cell phone and internet connection to give them their media fix. So far, 5% of US households have cut the cord, with the vast majority saying they made the move for economical reasons. Who can blame them?

If they have a blazing fast connection, they could watch all the movies they want on Netflix for around $ 8 a month. Amazon.com lets its “Prime” customers watch old TV shows and movies online for free. And now most of the TV networks are putting their hottest shows online, allowing customers to watch TV through websites like Hulu.

Will a Verizon and Netflix Tie-up Save You Money?

Verizon is keen to capture this growing market of cordless Americans. This week came rumors that it was in talks to acquire digital home movie darling Netflix. Verizon has plenty of cash to do a deal and Netflix shareholders seem to be growing weary of the current management. So, a deal isn’t that far-fetched.

The jury is still out on whether such a tie-up will save you money. Sources close to Verizon say that the company is looking to offer Netflix to areas that aren’t already wired for its fiber-optic cable and internet service, Fios. This would allow Verizon to capture millions of consumers under its umbrella without the need to spend billions of dollars laying new fiber. Verizon’s chief executive said this month that the company has stopped wiring new areas for Fios. Is this a coincidence?

Media analysts say that Verizon will probably price its service to be competitive against rising digital media giants, like Amazon.com. That would probably mean that the amount of money you spend each month on home movie rentals could remain level in a Verizon takeover. It could possibly even come down. Verizon’s heft will probably allow it to strike better deals with programmers and studios, allowing them to offer more content to its customers, on both its Fios and Netflix platforms, at potentially lower prices.

So, what will you do with all of that extra money? Judging by all these media studies, you’ll probably just go and consume more media.

Cyrus Sanati is a frelance financial journalist whose work has appeared in dozens of leading publications, including The New York Times, BreakingViews.com, and WSJ.com. Follow Cyrus on Twitter @csanati.

MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice

Ah, scams. The world is full of them, and I ought to know: I just spent the better part of the year researching a book about scams. And yes, even I’ve fallen for a scam a time or two. And I’m not alone.

Meet Jim and His Elderly Mother:

Jim Daniel’s mother almost got scammed.

One evening, he remembers, she received a call from someone who identified himself as “her favorite grandson.”

“Aaron?” she said, before thinking. ”Yeah, grandma, it’s Aaron,” the voice on the other end said. “I’m in some trouble and I don’t want anyone to know. I got arrested in Portland and I need $ 3,000. Can you send it on Western Union so I’ll have it here right away?”

Fortunately, a Wal-Mart clerk stopped her and begged her to verify the story before she sent the money. Sure enough, none of her grandchildren had been arrested.

“What we later found out is that the scammers were targeting old folks in residential facilities. The police won’t even bother to investigate because they can never track down anyone they are able to arrest,” Daniel told me.

Aman’s Shady Contract:

Aman Quadri remembers a misadventure when he and his wife moved to a new home in Austin, Texas.

“I did searches regularly and came across a reviewed moving company offering good rates,” he remembers. Quadri agreed to pay the company $ 55 an hour for two movers and a truck, which is a pretty good deal. But there was a catch. “They then showed up to the new home and stated that they need payment before they can unload the truck,” he recalls. The total cost: $ 4,900.

Turns out they’d thoughtlessly signed a contract that allowed the company to charge an extra $ 20 per shrinkwrapped item, and they had wrapped everything. Quadri called the police, but they couldn’t help because he had signed a contract.

Nancy’s Overseas Nightmare:

Nancy Miller is still kicking herself for getting scammed in Bangkok. “I really hate admitting I fell for this one,” she says.

She’d met a friendly local on a recent visit who spoke excellent English and said he worked for the “tourist police.” He added that this was her lucky day, because the Thai government was having a three-day “tax holiday” on gems.

Miller paid about $ 1,000 for a sapphire at a business the tourist policeman pointed her to. It was worth far less when she had it appraised later. “I don’t know what I was doing,” she says. “I grew up in New York City and am skeptical about everything. How did I get suckered into paying twice as much as I should have? I was definitely jet-lagged.”

All of these readers agreed to share their stories in order to prevent you from making the same mistakes.

Avoiding a scam isn’t as hard as it sounds:

Trust, but verify.

The Russian proverb is true. If someone makes a claim, check it out. Especially before you send $ 3,000 to your favorite grandson.

Read the contract.

You’d be surprised, even shocked, by the funny stuff that companies put in the fine print.

Never make a major purchase on two hours of sleep.

You’re simply not thinking clearly. Go back to your hotel and get some rest. Your wallet will thank you.

So, what’s the bottom line? You can avoid most of today’s scams by thinking before you buy. Don’t skip any steps, don’t cut any corners, and you will avoid more than 90 percent of the shady deals that people fall for.

And what about the other 10 percent? Well, that’s what I’m here to help you with.

Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate who blogs about getting better customer service at On Your Side. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook or send him your questions at by email

MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice

Today’s top green household products can’t be easily dismissed, even if your idea of “getting back to nature” is keeping a houseplant. In many cases, green products are safer, more durable, and cheaper. You don’t have to be a card-carrying member of the Sierra Club to use these five green household products that are good for your health and the environment.

Paper goods.

Paper towels are an addictive waste. The versatility of cloth napkins makes them a great substitute for the disposable version. Amazon has a variety of fancy cloth napkins, though I prefer to purchase everyday cloth napkins from Etsy. If only there were a similar solution for toilet paper!

Reusable water bottles.

With hundreds of customizable and stylish designs, there is no excuse for trashing the earth with ugly plastic water bottles instead of carrying around a reusable one. Stainless steel water bottles keep their shape better than aluminum ones and can be purchased at grocers, drugstores, and big-box retailers. I’ve seen basic models for as low as $ 5 each, which is a negligible cost when compared to buying bottles of water that you only use once.

Cleaners.

Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to baking soda, vinegar, and lemon. It’s a major bonus that these top green cleaners are incredibly inexpensive. I tested these natural cleaners on the dirtiest areas in my home, the kitchen sink and bathroom shower tiles, and was shocked by their performance.

Trader Joe’s Next to Godliness Multipurpose cleaner is a hit with countertops and I have heard that you can also use Next to Godliness Dish Soap in the dishwasher, as shampoo, and when you run out of bubble bath.

When in doubt about the accuracy of “green” and “natural” claims, terms which are not regulated by the FDA, look for products from Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyer’s, or Method. These three trusted brands use biodegradable ingredients and are not tested on animals. Plus, they are readily available at common retailers, such as Target and Whole Foods.

Micro cloth sponges.

Traditional sponges don’t last more than three months before they leave my fingers reeking of mold. It seems so unfair, considering how pricey they are. I switched to quick-drying micro cloths on a whim and found, even though they lack a scrubber, they perform just as well as their traditional rival. The best part is, a set of Super Amazon Kitchen Cloths from Trader Joe’s only costs a few dollars and last for years. I toss mine in the washer when they need a deep cleaning.

Glass containers.

According to Harvard Medical School, microwaving food in plastic containers may not be safe. To avoid this hazard, transition to glass containers with a plastic lid that can be removed during reheating. I like the ones from Rubbermaid and Pyrex is a good bet, too.

If you’re still looking for a particular green product, check out GreenHome.com. This San Francisco-based company has been around since 1999 and sells green products from more than 200 suppliers.

Julia writes the money-saving blog BargainBabe.com.

MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice

To be the best at anything, you have to work at it. There aren’t a lot of things in life that are offered for free. If they are, there’s likely a gimmick or an element of instant gratification tied to them, as opposed to something that is earned through hard work, drive, and passion.

If you want to be the best at anything, including investing, you have to ask yourself this question: Do you want to be the person accepting advice, unsure of yourself or why you’re accepting it, or the person who’s involved, confident in using it, and even dishing it out? If it’s the latter, which I suspect, then you have to realize that hard work and dedication are the way to go.

Think of it this way: If you want to get into shape, what do you have to do? You have to work out. If you want to get an elite education or specialize in a certain line of work, what do you have to do? You have to study hard. Investing is no different. It takes hard work, a touch of passion, and a big heart to be successful.

When I look back at my 13-plus years of investing and personal finance experience, I am filled with a sense of accomplishment. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that I have to continue to be disciplined and work at it, but I am extremely proud of the knowledge and skills I have acquired and earned over the past 13 years. In fact, so passionate that I feel a sense of obligation to give back: To teach all facets of investing, while challenging myself to learn more each and every day.

So, what sort of things can you do to become more involved in your investments and demonstrate that you have the dedication to become a more successful investor? Well, quite a few come to mind, but here are four ideas to get you started:

Check in on the markets daily.

Remember, this investing isn’t about instant gratification. Passion, coupled with time and experience, breeds confidence and results. It’s all there for the taking.

“4 Ways to Get More Involved in Your Investments” was provided by Minyanville.com.

MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice