Great Ideas

  • Thinking About Pet Insurance?
    This Wall Street Journal article is an excellent resource for people debating whether to buy pet insurance for their furry family members.  The article contains information on insurance policy features and common exclusions as well as links to websites that compare policies.  There is also an audio inerview of a vet who discusses what consumers should look for in a policy.
  • Free Email Reminders from the Registry of Motor Vehicles
    Starting in 2009, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) no longer reminds drivers when their license is up for renewal.  This free service allows MA residents to receive renewal reminders for driver's licenses or MA ID's via email, phone, or text message.
  • Cash for Clunkers
    The Car Allowance Rebate System, aka Cash for Clunkers, is making reducing your carbon footprint more affordable.  Details about he program, which offers taxpayers the incentive to trade their less efficient gas guzzlers for more fuel efficient new cars, can be found here.
  • Recycling by Numbers
    What do those little numbers stamped on the bottom of your plastic containers mean? Use this helpful resource to determine if your plastic is recyclable or toxic to the environment.
  • You Can Recycle Tyvek Envelopes
    DuPont, manufacturer of those plastic Tyvek mailing envelopes, has a nationwide recycling program in place. Click here to learn more and go green.
  • Free MD
    This virtual doctor can help you assess your symptoms and points out when you should consult with your doctor. While it is not a substitute for a medical exam, it is a great starting place to figure out if further medical treatment is necessary.
  • Tired of Getting Junk Mail Catalogs?
    Catalog Choice invites you to opt out of receiving catalogs in the mail. Simply enter your name and address and select the catalog(s) that you no longer wish to receive and they do the rest. This is an easy and simple way to save a tree or two and help the environment. Plus, it doesn't cost you a dime.
  • Got Books?
    Do you have an office full of old books that you want to get rid of? Instead of throwing them out, check out Got Books. They will pick them up, sell them, and donate a portion of the proceeds to local charities. They even take DVDs, record albums, audio books, and videos!
  • Even Hummer drivers can help reduce global warming
    Have you ever wondered how much pollution your car or SUV emits? Well, not only can you can find out, but you can actually give back to the global environment by funding alternative energy projects through TerraPass.
  • Get rid of your junk mail once and for all!
    A client recently shared this wonderful idea with me. Got junk mail? Who doesn't? But getting removed from junk mail lists is a time consuming and frustrating task. Instead, you can join GreenDimes and for $3 per month, they will do it for you. Plus, each month they plant a tree for you to help replenish the trees killed off to print this trash.
  • Recycle Your Christmas Tree
    Visit this site to learn about how you can recycle everything from your Christmas Tree (sans decorations) to your old car battery.
  • Buy Local
    This website uses your zipcode to locate stores, small farms and restaurants that sell locally produced organic and sustainable food, including dairy, eggs, cheese, cage-free chickens, and antibiotic- and hormone-free meat. Remember, you are what you eat.
  • Make a Difference by Sponsoring a Business
    With Kiva, it is possible for the average person to participate in micro-lending by sponsoring a business in a developing country. The process is simple. You choose the business and make a small loan, which is paid back with interest over a 6-12 month period. Whiie the loan in being paid back, you will receive email updates from the business owner. This is a great way to do some good with your money.
  • Rent a Cow and Promote Sustainable Agriculture
    Rent Mother Nature offers you the opportunity to *lease* a cow and promote small-scale farms. You will receive a harvest - your choice of Brie or Cheddar cheese. Plus, you can order an action photo of your cow. Be a hero and buy local!
  • Want to know how you can help stop global warming?
    Here are 10 tips from the movie "An Inconvenient Truth".
  • Support the companies that support GLBT equality
    Buying for Equality: A Guide to Companies and Products That Support Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Equality is a publication of the Human Rights Campaign. The HRC Buyer's Guide gives you the information you need to support products from companies that support equality. Together, we can help effect real change in workplaces across the country.
  • Want to track internet stories on a specific topic?
    Google's Alert service tracks websites that contain your specific search terms and will automatically send you a notification email whenever a new match appears.
  • Don't Want to Give Out Your Real Phone Number?
    If you place an online ad, you may not wish to display your real telephone number. This service allows you to buy your own toll-free telephone number, which you can then forward to your home phone, cell phone, etc.
  • Calculate Your Life Expectancy
    The Alliance for Aging Research, a nonprofit organization, has developed a questionnaire to determine your expected longevity. It also will make suggestions to help you live longer.
  • Off the Beaten Path
    If you plan to take a road trip, check out this website, where you can find some quirky landmarks, such as: The Museum of Bad Art (Dedham, MA), The Big Duck (Flanders, NY) or even the Elvis is Alive Museum (Wright City, MO). Travel safely!
  • Ask a librarian a question and get an answer
    This interesting website allows you to ask a Massachusetts librarian a question and get a real-time answer. Compare your answers against Google!
  • How to reach a customer service person
    If you get frustrated when dealing with automated phone systems, you can find out tips on how to reach a human via this web page. It is a great resource.
DISCLOSURE:
At certain places on this Neiman & Associates Financial Services, LLC Internet site, live 'links' to other Internet addresses can be accessed. Such external Internet addresses contain information created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of Neiman & Associates Financial Services, LLC . Neiman & Associates Financial Services, LLC does not endorse, approve, certify, or control these external Internet addresses and does not guarantee or assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness, or correct sequencing of information located at such addresses. Use of any information obtained from such addresses is voluntary, and reliance on it should only be undertaken after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, efficacy, and timeliness. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Neiman & Associates Financial Services, LLC .
©2010 Neiman & Associates Financial Services, LLC . All rights reserved.