Balance Newsletter - March 2009

Welcome to Balance!

Hi there, and Happy Spring from everyone at balanceaustin.com! 
   
If you are looking for health insurance coverage, please consider  Scott & White Health Plan for all of your health insurance needs.

Spring Break Staycation 2009

According to the Urban Dictionary, a staycation is ‘a vacation that is spent at one’s home enjoying all that home and one’s home environs have to offer’.   Whether you opt for a day trip, a few days of exploration with your home as a nightly base, or a weekend excursion with a stay in a local hotel or bed and breakfast, the bottom line is a staycation is still a money saver thanks to your savings on transportation costs.  Here are five easy steps to plan your getaway:

~ Think Like a Traveler - Ask yourself, "If I had company from out of town, where would I take them for the day?"  What are the must-see attractions and the secret hideaways in your city?  Austin is far from short on cool places and tourist attractions that many locals may dismiss.  Local authors Paris Permenter and John Bigley have published their 5th Edition of Day Trips from Austin, which is filled with inexpensive ideas in our own backyard. 

~ Do Some Research - Check the website of your city's convention and visitor’s bureau or chamber of commerce for upcoming special events and a list of local attractions. Check local resort websites to see if they offer day passes for use of the pool, spa and fitness facilities or if a spa treatment will give you use of the facilities for the day.  A great website to check for activities in and around Austin is  www.austintexas.org.

~ Put It On the Schedule - Mark your staycation on the calendar just as you would any other vacation day (otherwise it's just too easy to let it slide and stay busy with everyday activities).

~ Look for Discounts - To further save money, check to see if some museums and other attractions offer free days or discounted admission after a particular hour. Make your plans accordingly.

~Treat It Like a Vacation - "Pack" or at least prepare for your staycation just like you would an out of town trip.  Make an itinerary for your sightseeing plans.  Book some dinner reservations.  Buy attraction tickets in advance.  Grab a city map.  Don't forget your camera!

March is Spiritual Wellness Month

Spiritual Wellness is living life in perfect balance within our body, mind and spirit.  It’s an understanding that we are spiritual beings - having a human experience, rather than a human being having occasional spiritual feelings.  In celebrating Spiritual Wellness Month, we have dissected the different forms of Yoga to help you start your path to a peaceful and fulfilling journey. 
 
For over 5,000 years, Yoga and Meditation have helped millions of people enjoy greater flexibility, increased energy, mental clarity, and inner peace.

Finding your niche, along with meditation practices, is a good starting point for achieving a healthy mental balance in your life.  Check out the Health and Wellness section at balanceaustin.com for more.

Before starting any Yoga routine, consult a doctor to make sure it’s right for you.

Earth Hour

Earth Hour is an annual international event created by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature/World Wildlife Fund), held on the last Saturday of March, that asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.  It was pioneered by WWF Australia and the Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, and achieved worldwide participation in 2008.  Earth Hour will take place Saturday, March 28th at 8:30pm.  Demonstrate your commitment to finding a solution and turn out to turn it off this Earth Hour.   

Sunday Morning Balance Breakfast Hour

Sunday mornings at 8am on Majic 95.5 are the home of the Sunday Morning Balance Breakfast music feature, and it continues to generate playlists from you, our loyal balance audience – thanks for sending them in!  In February, special thanks to Sandy Liggin for programming that edition.  For your efforts Sandy, we're going to send you a Balance gift!

If you have a playlist that could set the tone for a relaxed morning, click here and submit five songs.  This is your chance to program music for the masses!  The next Sunday Morning Balance Breakfast Hour will be at 8am on March 22nd, on Majic 95.5. 

Featured Health Tip

Are You Paying Too Much for Health Insurance?

Often, finding balance in your life means finding a balanced budget. That’s why, if you think you’re paying too much for health insurance, you need to stop.  Insurance carriers like Scott & White Health Plan offer comprehensive coverage at an affordable price.  Compare your current plan with ours–or speak with a health insurance broker–to make sure you’re getting the best rates for the best service. Here are some additional tips to help keep your health care costs down:

1. Practice prevention. Keeping yourself healthy every day may significantly reduce the amount of money you need to spend on prescriptions, medical care and medical coverage. For example, rates are almost always lower for non-smokers, so quit!  And regular checkups may help prevent major costs in the future.  Also, participating in wellness programs may help you stay healthy, which could lower your health costs in the long run.

2. Check your medical bills. Doctors’ offices are busy places, and medical bills can sometimes carry mistakes.  Make sure to check carefully to see that you received all the care for which you were billed.  If not, contact the appropriate billing office to fix your information and billing.

3. Keep track of your medical expenses.  Along with diligence in checking your bills comes diligence in keeping them organized and in one place.  That way, when tax time comes around, you’ll be able to quickly see whether you can deduct some of your medical expenses.  Generally speaking, if your medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, you may be eligible for tax deductions.

4. Get to know your health insurance.  Your insurance may cover more than you think–particularly if you’re part of a comprehensive, quality plan like Scott & White Health Plan.  Talk to your representative and read through your coverage carefully.  You may not only receive benefits you didn’t know you had, but also discover you have coverage you don’t really need.  Eliminating this excess coverage is another way to keep costs down.

To learn more, log on to the Health and Wellness section at balanceaustin.com, brought to you by Scott & White Health Plan.

Monthly Podcast –Chef Tiffany Collins

Chef Tiffany Collins, culinary director for the Texas Beef Council (TBC), is as skilled at communicating cuisine as she is at preparing it.  She has redefined the chef’s traditional role by taking culinary messages and information directly to consumers at events as varied as giant home shows to television appearances to educational presentations before select audiences.

“Consumers want nutrition, convenience and innovation when it comes to recipes,” Chef Collins says.  “My goal as culinary director of the Texas Beef Council is to make sure I provide beef ideas that meet all three needs.”  To learn more about how Chef Collins creates balance, click here.

Balance Event's This Month

• March 14th – 28th – Star of Texas Rodeo
• March 27th-28th - Domain Fashion Show – The Domain
• March 29th – Capitol 10,000 Run – 8:45am

For details on these events and others visit the events pages at www.mix947.com and www.majic.com

Feedback

From everyone at balanceaustin.com, thank you for your support!  Help us grow this community by providing feedback on how to improve the website content or if you have stories or tips to share.  We hope you enjoy the website.