Personal Finance News

We're past the New Year surge of ambition, and settling into what some might call the "spring slump" -- that time after the holidays and Valentine's Day where people start to become a bit more lax on their resolutions, especially the ones pertaining to health.

Luckily, I've recently picked up a habit that makes the whole "eat healthier" resolution a lot easier to keep. Flax seed seems to be one of the latest trends in the health food industry, and I have become one of its latest devotees.

Flax seed comes from the flax (or linseed) plant. Most of these plants are grown in the Midwest, especially in North Dakota, and can also be used to make linens and clothing.

Flax can be consumed in three ways: as a supplement, as oil, or you can eat the seed itself. Ground flaxseed is everywhere lately, so you should be able to find it in most stores. It even comes in flavors (blueberry is pretty tasty), making it an inexpensive and easy add-in to your every day diet.

'Tis the season for holiday cheer! I love hosting Christmas cocktail parties and ornament exchanges for my friends, family and co-workers, but these parties can get expensive. The bar budget alone can cost more than the food you serve, especially when you attempt to stock a full bar. My solution? I offer soft drinks, white and red wine and one signature cocktail.

The signature cocktail is festive, goes with the theme of your party, allows you time to interact with your guests (instead of mixing drinks) and saves you money. Instead of buying all kinds of alcohol and the mixers to match, you can focus on a few ingredients. Voila! An easy, stream-lined party.

Here are a few of my favorite holiday cocktail recipes that are festive, fun and won't break an already over-extended holiday budget:

Every once in a while, I like to clue you all in to a good deal on great wine. This is one of those times. The winery? FS Cellars, from the Paso Robles area of California.

Paso Robles is one of my favorite wine-making areas in the state, so I try to make trips there every so often. On my last visit to the area, I came across FS Cellars, a small boutique winery and tasting room located at the hub of the Paso Robles appellation, in the heart of San Luis Obispo County, Calif.

One of my favorite parts of the wine experience is the ritual of uncorking the bottle. That sound, feel and smell of the cork all are all part of the romance of wine. However, corks can be unreliable. They can break, resulting in a stuck bottle or bits of cork in your wine. A faulty cork can even let air into the bottle, leaving you with a "corked" bottle of wine that smells a lot like old, used, sweaty gym socks. Definitely not romantic.

As an answer to the cork conundrum, wine makers from all over have started turning to screw caps and plastic corks so that they can better control their end product. And then there's always boxed wine -- the topic of today's blog.

Many wine snobs shy away from what once was a "great vehicle" for an ice cold glass of White Zinfandel. You may remember it from college parties or your grandma's fridge -- or anywhere else cost outweighed quality. The stigma against boxed wine is beginning to lift, however, and people are beginning to discover that boxed wines may actually be good -- and are getting better all the time. In fact, Consumer Reports did a blind tasting among wine experts, pitting boxed wines against those in a bottle.

Guess what? The experts liked the boxed wines better than most of the bottled wine they tried. The white wines, like Chardonnay, fared particularly well during the taste test.

Summer is here and that means it is BBQ season. We all want to have a fun, stress-free backyard get-together without breaking the bank. Here are some tips to make you a BBQ bigshot.

• Don't buy pre-made burgers. Buy ground beef in bulk and form your own patties. They taste much better and will save you money. If you have kids around, have them help make the patties -- they love it!

• Plan your menu around what's on sale. This time of year, you can get great deals on hot dogs, chicken, ground beef and steaks. When you see a great deal, buy a lot and freeze the meat until you are ready to use it.

If you're just starting out in the world of wine, wine.com has a great way for you to develop your palate, while sampling varietals from around the world.

This introductory wine club features different varietals, styles and regions each month at a really low price. The wines are chosen from both well-known and up-and-coming vineyards, and can be enjoyed now. The best part: the ongoing membership costs only $19.99 per month.

Here is what you'll get:

Life is too short to drink bad wine, but with a dismal economy most of us can't afford to drop a lot of money on Chateau Lafite.

Well, I'll let you in on a little secret: You can make bargain wines taste like the more expensive sips with one simple tool -- a wine aerator.

As you may know, wine which has been allowed to breathe tastes better. This is because incorporating air into wine helps it to open up and release its aromas and flavors. In the past, decanters were used to aerate wine. However, decanting can be time consuming, cumbersome and inconvenient. With an aerator you get the most from your wine in the least amount of time.

Life is too short to drink bad wine, but in this economy it can be hard to justify spending extra money on your favorite bottles. Want to have it all? Here are a few tips.

Try lots of wines. When you find one you like, write it in a notebook, along with where you bought it and how much it cost. This will help you find the best deals.

Once you know your favorites, SHOP! Keep an eye on sales at the grocery store, or places like Sam's Club and Costco. Also, search for online sites offering discounts on your favorite wines. You never know what kind of a deal you might find if you just use those Googling skills!

Join a wine club. Most wineries have wine clubs that offer regular shipments and discounted rates on all of your favorites. You will also usually be the first to know about sales and events.

June is the month for weddings. And if you're planning a wedding, or even just a summer party, you'll want to serve great wine. Of course, you won't want to break the bank providing it, either. You're in luck. Walletpop has a few tips on how you can let the vino flow free at your next event...for less!

Believe it or not, a good quality wine can be purchased for $8-$10. The trick is to try lesser known winemakers and wines from up and coming regions: Chile, South Africa, or Spain. There are many undiscovered treasures; the fun part is finding some you love at your local wine shop. Next time you stop in, ask for recommendations from these regions and expand your wine horizons while keeping your wallet flush.

If you are having a catered event somewhere other than your home, ask the restaurant or hotel if you can bring in your own wine. Most venues mark up wine by at least 100% to turn a profit; you're much better off buying for yourself. The tough economy is on your side in negotiating this into your event contract, as most places would rather have your business for the main fare than haggle over the wine.