Blog Posts by SavvySugar

Monday, Monday, can't help that day! I know, heading back to work can feel like a drag, but dragging your feet isn't likely to help kick start your day, and lagging behind can leave you with a mountain of to-dos by the time to call it quits. So, let's start the morning off right. There are a few easy changes you can make to your morning routine that might just make you more productive by the time you sit down to tackle your A.M. emails.

1. Start your morning playlist earlier - You might already have a go-to morning jam, but maybe it's time to mix it up. Pick your favorite song, maybe even the one you were dancing to Saturday night. Hit play on your iPod or computer before you hit the shower - don't wait till you're headed to the bus or car - by the time you're out, you'll already be getting in the groove.
2. Make breakfast at home - A lot of us grab our breakfast grub on the go, but if you wake up a little earlier to chef up something easy and delicious, you'll be leaving home

It seems a spoonful of sugar really does help the medicine go down. A recent study found sugary beverages can help ease tension at work and make employees less argumentative. The findings note sugar in drinks like sweet tea give employees an energy surge that allows their brains to control impulses and prevent them from reacting too quickly in stressful situations. These findings are contrary to sugar's rep for causing a sugar rush roller coaster that could make people snap or act spontaneously.

So, while sugary drinks aren't the healthiest option for your waistline, they could help your mental health and stability in the office, and may even be a smart choice before a stressful meeting. Have you ever sipped stress away?

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What's Stronger? Your Knowledge or Productivity?

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While yesterday I posed the tricky community question of when to split travel costs, I did a bit of research and found three websites to make this task a bit easier, no matter when you decide to act. To ensure that one person isn't stuck with the bill, here are three options - one to be set up beforehand, one to add as you go, and one to make the calculations easier later on:

Before - WePay. For this site, people put equal amounts of money into a joint account using a credit card or checking account for trip purposes. Money is then handled by one person or all funds could be combined into a prepaid credit card to be used on the vacation itself. That way if there's money left over, it can be divided up equally. No fuss! (For smaller trips, a prepaid credit card can be purchased by itself as n00dledancer suggested.)

During - Share-a-bill. I personally think this iPhone app is well worth the $4 asking price. An easy way to enter, tally, and divide up costs, this application can be used

The Fourth of July is marked with parades, fireworks, grilled food, and friends, but it's really a celebration of independence. Take a moment to consider your own independence, in the financial sense. Getting there doesn't happen in a snap - take the smoothest path by checking off all of these six s

OK, maybe not 35 different reasons, but an adult passport asking price will go up $35 on July 13 to $135 total. Likewise, the cost of renewal for adults rises to $110 from $75 in the past. That's a pretty penny 3,500 pretty pennies!

According to the Department of State, these new fees "cover actual operating expenses for the 301 overseas consular posts, 23 domestic passport agencies and other centers that provide these consular services to U.S. and foreign citizens." That is, the people who help you out if you, say, lose that passport while enjoying your vacation.

Curious when you should be renewing regardless? Find some tips and read more.

Keep in mind, it doesn't make (savvy) sense to renew the document if you got it, like, last year. It's technically possible to renew at your own discretion, but the 10 years of validity will start from that day forward. For those of you facing a more looming expiration, it's generally recommended to complete the paperwork at least nine months in

The experience of going on a road trip is often just as exciting as the final destination. Lucky for us, the long holiday weekend ahead invites the opportunity to hit the road and head someplace fun. Before you put your car into drive, check out my money saving tips for your road trip.Related Conten

Brisas is thinking about buying her first house and is finding the whole process to be, well, complicated. She asked for support in the Ask Savvy group and readers shared some fantastic advice. Here is a handful of smart reader suggestions any first-time home buyer should consider.

Related Content:

Savvy Community: Buying Our First House . . . Any Tips?

The Country's Priciest Fixer-Upper: Guess How Much?

Savvy Community: Buy House Solo, or Wait For New Love?

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Vacation all I ever wanted. Vacation had to get away! It's almost Summer in the city and time to start planning vacations, whether they be to tropical isles, or your college roommate's condo in another city. Before you take off for your trip be sure to download these handy apps that will keep you connected, organized, well-fed, and directed while in a distant land or airport terminal.

• Trip Advisor - If you're an avid traveler, you know a good hotel can make or break your travel experience. And chances are, you've checked out a rating or two on travel review site Tripadvisor. Now, the popular site has just released a free iPhone app that allows you to search the same ratings directly from your iPhone. From the app, search cheap flights, along with restaurant, hotel, and attraction recommendations.
• Trip Deck - Make an itinerary with ease! Trip Deck Travel Itinerary Manager (Free) lets you manage your hotel reservations, rental car, flight, and meetings from one place.