Are you thinking of buying an SUV but scared of the high gas costs? Don’t. Here are some tips on how to own an SUV and keep your costs relatively low.

Hybrids or hybrid versions of compact SUVs use less gas. If you think hybrids are more expensive, try using available tax rebates.

Keep things simple inise your SUV. Added weight can only waste more fuel. About 100 pounds of weight can use 1-2% more fuel than when you’re driving a vehicle with less weight.

Regular oil change and tune up can improve your SUV’s engine, making it more fuel efficient. You can also roll down the windows when you’re traveling in less polluted roads. Air conditioning increases mileage.

Driving during the day can be bad enough, what more if you drive at night. Here are some tips to help you have a safe evening trip:

Check your vehicle and make sure that all the lights are in perfect condition. Your vehicle’s lights are important to help you see in the evening.

Drive defensively. If everyone else is driving aggresively, let them. Drive defensively and follow traffic rules all the more. If everyone else is determined to get ahead of you, then let them. It is not worth getting an accident for.

Don’t drive if you are too tired, or if you had alcohol to drink. You might feel fine before you leave but you’ll never know when the alcohol starts to kick in. Take public transportation or have someone else drive your vehicle. You don’t want to fall asleep behind the wheel, do you?

Fog is dangerous when driving because of low visibitlity. It is always best to take precautions when driving on a foggy day.

If you can avoid your trip, or delay it, then do so. For example, you can choose to drive at a later time in the morning as the sun usually clears up the fog when the sun rises.

If you can’t avoid to drive, make sure that you keep your headlight on and on low beam while driving. High beam will only get reflected back by the fog, making it harder to see.

Drive slow and at a constant speed. This would allow you more time to react. Avoid tailgaiting and passing others on multi-lane roads.

Turn on your windshield wipers and defroster to clear windows. You can also keep a window slightly open so outside noise is audible. At least, you can hear what’s going on if you can’t see it.

If the fog gets worse, pull of the road at a safe place.

Switch of your head light and turn your emergency light on.

You might be innocently driving down the road when you hear sirens coming from behind a booming voice is asking you to pull over. What do you do?

Do not panic. You still do not know whatever called their attention. Simply slow down and and find a place to pull over. If you can’t then simply pull off the side of the road.

Turn the engine off. As the police officer is walking towards your car, have your driver’s license and car registration ready. Roll down your window a bit and place your hands on the steering wheel where they can be seen.

The officer will shine a light on you. This is normal. Don’t be scared. Don’t say anything until the officer talks to you and never admit to anything without even knowing the reason why you were pulled over.

Lastly, simply follow the commands of the officer. The ordeal might be scary, but it is not necessarily a problem as long as you know what to do.

Are you prone to having motion sickness? It’s a condition that takes place in the inner ear when there is a change in balance or equilibrium. Most people have dizziness, nausea which causes vomiting, and sweating. Here are some tips to alleviate if not prevent motion sickness when traveling.

There are over-the-counter medications available for motion sickness. You can take this according to instructions, usually an hour before traveling. Or better yet, visit your doctor who can prescribe better medication, especially if you have severe motion sickness.

Try not to eat heavy meals before and during your travel. This applies also with alcohol or excessively spicy or greasy/oily foods. Stick to crackers or biscuits and water.

Choose a seat that gives you less chance of getting sick. The back seat is usually more bumpy so see if you can have the front seat instead. On a plane, the calmest seats are usually those over the wing. As for boats or ships, you can stay on the lower floors near the center of the vessel.

Do breathing exercises when you start feeling sick. Avoid reading or doing puzzles.

What do you need to consider if you’re picking luggage for air travel?  Here are some tips and suggestions to help you choose wisely.

Air travel needs very durable luggage. You’re not always too sure if baggage handlers treat your bags carefully. Your luggage may also be placed under other luggage and may be transferred from one hold to another, especially if you’re transferring planes. Better to buy something that can withstand weight.

Make sure that your luggage isn’t too heavy. Consider flight restrictions and if you already have a heavy luggage from the start, you’d be limited to what you can put inside. And you don’t want that, do you?

This is also the same for carry-on luggage. Make sure that they meet common size restrictions. Better if you can fit them under your seat or the over-head compartments. Otherwise, you’ll have to check them in and it will cost you more.

Make sure that your luggage is easy to handle. Wheels should be durable and the handle has a comfortable but firm grip. Make sure that you can manipulate it easily. Practice walking it around.

Are you planning to invite out-of-town people to your wedding? Out-of-town guests will also make an effort to get to your wedding even if the have to make time off their busy schedules and travel far. The least you can do is to make sure that they are comfortable and that they also enjoy this special moment of your life. Read the following tips and suggestions to make sure that you’ll be the perfect hosts:

Make sure that they have comfortable accommodations. If you have the resources, and you plan to offer to pay for their stay, you can book them in a hotel or you can find space in a mutual friend or a relative’s home. If they will be paying for their own accommodation, you can help by researching hotels in the area and give them a choice.

Consider arranging transportation for your guests. You can hire a limo on the wedding day. You can ask if the hotel they will be staying in have a complimentary shuttle service that would take them to and from the airport. If you’re on a budget, you can ask a friend and a relative to drive them around.

A welcome gift basket would also be nice. Call them too once you’ve learned that they’ve arrived These are nice ways of saying thank you for their efforts in being with you on your special day.

Want to negotiate with your boss for more vacation time? Here are tips on how to do exactly that. Won’t guarantee that they give you two whole months, but it’s worth a try!

Timing is everything. Don’t just rush into yout boss’ office to ask for an extention. Takes some planning but it’ll be worth it. Usually, the best time is after a solid performance review. You can also give it a shot at the end of a profitable fiscal year, or a successful presentation. Just gauge your boss’ mood. If it’s good, it’s good.

Don’t just ask for anything for no reason. We’re not saying that you make excuses, but have a very good reason for extending your vacation time. The best way to do it is by being honest. If you feel that you need that extra week because you deserve it after being the top employee for the past two years, then state it.

Negotiate. You can provide a list of things you can do or give up in order to get the extra time off. You can hand in a deliverable (or two)  earlier than the deadline, etc.  Or working for an hour of overtime over a month or two. Whatever it is, make sure that it is something you can and you will actually do.

Frostbite can occur if you have been exposed to extreme cold. The way to prevent this is to limit your exposure by wearing proper clothing and by keeping yourself dry and warm. Avoid cold wind as much as possible.

If in case you get a frost bite, you may do the following:

First, get out of the cold. If you are near a shelter, get inside. Keep the patient warm.

Rewarm the affected part. You can do this by using body heat or ambient room temperature. You may cover the skin by a dry cloth or blanket. If you can build a fire in the room, you may do this also. In case of emergency and you have neither a blanket or fire, you may apply body heat via skin contact with another person.

If you have access to warm water, you may submerge the frostbitten area in it until it appears red and if it feels warm. One hundred to one hundred five degrees F or 39 to 41 C is the recommended temperature. Dry the area with a soft cloth by dabbing gently. Do not rub. Place gauze pads and then bandage with a dry and sterile dressing.

Protect the area so that re-freezing won’t happen. Get the patient to a hospital as soon as possible.

Remember that if not treated properly, forstbite can be infected which can then lead to gangrene and amputation may be needed. Oooh, ouch!

It’s amazing how work can really run your life and you don’t notice it until the last minute. When we’re busy, the adrenaline rush is so strong that sometimes, stress becomes addictive. Before that happens, remember that life is not all about work, and you deserve a break. Here’s how you can lose all those wrinkles with just one day of bliss.

Start by filing a leave. Whether you’ve been planning it for weeks, or you just thought of it today, don’t show up at the office today.

Wake up early or wake up late. You can rise early so you can enjoy a day full of activities, or you can sleep overtime because you never get to do that (more sleeping time is never a bad thing).

Be choosy with the people you’re with. This day, you don’t have time to spend with people you don’t really like. If you meet the usual annoying characters, don’t stay long to chat. Simply say you’re off to an errand and meet with friends who make you laugh.

Eat only what you’re craving for. Ever craved for that hotdog but the store is several blocks away? Well today you can drive all the way to wherever you want to satisfy your taste buds.

Flirt if you’re single and looking. When you’re at the office, you barely have time for romance. And it’s not as if the guys there are worth your time, anyway. Since you’re free today, hit the mall and be on the lookout for a hottie. The day shouldn’t end without a date.

Visit your family. If your parents live on the other side of town, now could be a good time to have a mini-reunion. It’s not holiday season, but it doesn’t mean you don’t miss them, right?

Get yourself a spa treatment. It’s about time you get a massage. Loosen those muscles and get some pampering. You deserve it.