Articles written by Rana Williamson

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About me - Rana Williamson

I started writing with a thick little kid pencil in a Big Chief tablet. Now I sit at a MacBook, thankful I was forced to take high school typing. (We didn't call it keyboarding back then.)

I've worked on newspapers (even covered a big murder trial), maneuvered

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Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving 7 tips on saving money: 2 of 151
In the middle of this recession, living within your means is the new "lean" fashion. For Americans used to ready credit, trimming down the budget involves both personal and practical decisions. Saving money isn't just a short-term project, it's an act of long-term personal empowerment. By deciding to live more economically no... More..
Personal Finance > Personal Finance (Other) Ways to help neighbors who might be struggling financially (without insulting them): 3 of 72
One great truth about the current recession is that we're all in it together. The longer it goes on, the more people are realizing that we need to help one another. But what to do for our neighbors? How can we extend a helping hand to people who live so close and yet who are really not much more than passing, acquaintances? W... More..
Relationships & Family > Friendship Advice Inspirational friendship quotes and their meaning: 1 of 20
Some cultures use rituals to solemnize friendships the way marriage formalizes the love between a man and a woman. The written history of human civilization is filled with considerations of what it means to be a friend, the value of friendship, and the place such relationships hold in the fabric of our our lives. While it may... More..
Health & Fitness > Menstruation & Menopause Menopause: Symptoms and treatment: 1 of 13
Menopause symptoms are part of a biological process experienced by all women as their child-bearing years end. The transition begins as early as the 30s and can last into the 60s. All women go through the change in different ways. Some have no symptoms or only mild issues. Others battle a range of changes from hot flashes to ... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Religious Speculations & Criticisms What do you believe?: 5 of 64
Country singer Don Williams in, "I Believe in You," croons the lines, "I don't believe that heaven waits for only those who congregate." Kris Kristofferson asked, "Why me, Lord?" And Johnny Cash said there's "nothing short of dying, that's half as lonesome as the sound of a sleeping city sidewalk" and Sunday Morning Coming Do... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Economy When the state of the economy hits home: 10 of 105
Every night the news slaps us with more negative numbers. Joblessness at 8% nationwide, the worst level in 25 years. Foreclosures up 81% in 2008. More than a year into the worst recession since 1929, the American consumer isn't just scared, he's terrified. If the state of the economy hasn't knocked on your door yet, it will. ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Photography Tips for taking vacation photographs: 1 of 9
Our bad vacation photos are generally a learned phenomenon. Uncle Fred had a Polaroid and lined you all up in front of Mt. Rushmore, then backed off half a mile to take the picture. That's the kind of vacation image that rots in a drawer for eternity. If you want to take dynamic pictures that accurately recall the sights, sou... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving Step-by-step guide to managing your money more efficiently: 2 of 16
Managing your money more efficiently starts with becoming conscious about how much you are spending, what you are buying, the degree of debt you carry, and the amount you save for the future. Start with these six basic steps to get your financial house in order.1. Track expenses.No one can efficiently manage their money if th... More..
Business > Website Marketing & SEO 10 ways to identify keywords that really drive conversions: 2 of 16
Identifying keywords that drive conversions is more art than science. Use these ten basic principles to build an effective search engine marketing campaign.1. Use two to four words to get high keyword conversions.Usually searchers run an initial query, get too many hits, and refine the search phrase. For maximum keyword conve... More..
Personal Finance > Spending & Saving (Other) How to live more economically: 1 of 8
To live more economically, become aware of and accountable for your present spending habits. Start with six key areas of excess (of which we're all guilty) to put yourself on the road to living within your means and saving for the future.1. Keep track and compete with yourself. Accountability matters.In any category of spendi... More..