Work + Money
- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's historic announcement that women may now serve in military combat has equal-rights advocates cheering--but many civilians scratching their heads.

Women in military combat: not a fantasy.
For starters, nearly 140 female soldiers have already died in action in Iraq and Afghanistan alone, and more than 800 have been wounded. If the now-ended Combat Exclusion Policy didn't allow them on front lines, how did it happen? And what does the new policy actually mean?
We turned to experts including Greg Jacob, policy director for the Service Women's Action Network, which works for military equality and challenged the federal ban with a lawsuit brought by the ACLU in 2012, to break down the details of the policy change for Shine readers. Here's what we learned:
There are no laws prohibiting women from combat units.
Those were repealed in the early 1990s. However, since then, it has been U.S. military policy to restrict women from certain units and military occupations, particularly ground combat units....Read More » - Before writing her book, "Never Be Late Again," management consultant Diana DeLonzor was always, always late. "It didn't matter what time I got up. I could get up at six and still be late for work at nine," she recalls. She was reprimanded at work, lost friendships and her timely husband was always mad at her. She couldn't stand being late, yet she just couldn't change.

Disney/YouBeauty
...Read More »
"Most people really hate being late and have tried many times to fix it," DeLonzor says. "Punctual people misunderstand. They think you're doing it as a control thing, or that you're selfish or inconsiderate. But it really is a much more complex problem than it seems."
MORE: How to Become a Morning Person
In a study she led at San Francisco State University of 225 people, she found that about 17 percent were chronically late. Among them, there were clear patterns. Late people tended to procrastinate more, demonstrated trouble with self-control (were more prone to habits such as overeating, drin - Source: Ultimate Guide to Getting Rid of Stuff You Don't Need

Starting the New Year means clearing out the old. It's a good idea to get items you don't use out of the way because they will fill up valuable space in your home. Get ready to sell your stuff with these tips:
- Electronics. If you're thinking about selling your electronics, consider Gazelle.com, buymytronics.com, and nextworth.com. These sites are great because they'll quote you a price for the item you wish to sell. You can always consider selling it back to the original retailer itself if you're wary about third-party sellers. For instance, Apple has a great recycling program.
- Receipts and documents. Nip your pack rat tendencies in the bud and start sorting out documents to trash or stash. Throw away receipts for items that you aren't planning on returning, and ones that you won't need to use come tax time. If you're wary of throwing away receipts, you can make a digital copy of them with a basic scann
- Source: Data-Only Plans: Cut Talk and Text (and Save Money)

Shopping for mobile devices is a curious thing - why do carriers offer data-only plans for the iPad that are cheaper and more flexible than typical plans for smartphones? Turns out that subscribers pay a hefty fee for standard unlimited talk and text and are often trapped into two-year contracts in order to afford their smartphones. Device plus data packages are usually offered on a month-to-month basis with no contract. It just makes sense. We've compiled a guide to going rogue and getting a data-only plan, with details on how much you'll save, which carriers offer data only, the essential apps you'll need for free talk and text, and what the downsides are.
How Much Will I Save?
- Let's take a closer look at Verizon: purchase an iPad, and data will run you $30 per month for 4GB with no contract. The same month-to-month plan for an iPhone (with required unlimited talk and text added on) is $70 per month - that's $480 more per
...Read More »
A new Mercedes-Benz ad starring the voluptuous Kate Upton is generating some surprisingly negative buzz in the blogosphere, with critics calling it cheap and tasteless—even wondering if it's too sexy.
More on Shine: Does Visa's Superbowl Ad Put Football Before Parenting?
"Hot girl, great car, and somehow I think this is the worst ad Mercedes has ever made," and "Cheap and stupid. Worst ad Mercedes made. Whoever thought of this needs to be fired!" are among a slew of choice comments posted on the Mercedes-Benz Facebook page.
The ad, set to air on February 3 during the Super Bowl, starts off with a slow pan upward, from feet to face, of a scantily clad Upton and her physical assets. Bluesy music blares. The screen goes blank except for a title: "Kate Upton Washes the New Mercedes CLA—in Slow Motion," and then it's back to the action, which consists of Upton suggestively blowing suds out of her hand, and then teasing and supervising a few young, wide-eyed young men in football jerseys
- There are many families today that have nixed the idea of a family vacation because of the expense. Those living from one paycheck to the next are often hard-pressed to justify time away from home but with the stresses of everyday life, families need a break from reality to recharge their batteries if only for a few days. There are many ways to make a family vacation both fun and affordable. Even if you plan a weekend road trip to locations close by, you can still benefit from getting away from it all and spending quality time with your spouse and kids. Here are 5 tips for a more cost-effective, family-friendly trip.

family trips on a budget
1. Drive There
There are likely many locations within a 2-3 hour drive of your home you can plan to visit. If traveling with young children, that length of time may be all they can reasonably handle. Plus you can save on gas by staying relatively close to home. Don't overlook off-the-beaten path locations either. You don't have to go with a high-priced travel agency to ...Read More » 
Can Your Sun Sign Handle a Job Promotion?
You've earned the promotion you've been working toward for ages, and now it's time to step into your new role of greater responsibility. But, can you rise to the occasion -- and above potentially envious colleagues -- to make the most of your newfound success? Assuming a leadership position comes more naturally to some Sun signs than it does to others.
The two signs who will stride most confidently into a promotion are Leo and Capricorn. Leo adores being looked up to, and they'll relish the chance to be above the common crowd; in fact, they'll truly come into their own with higher professional status. Capricorn will ignore any digs from co-workers and simply get on with the job -- with their mind focused on their next move up the ladder!
Scorpio has always been one of the top signs for military leadership because they're so determined and resourceful. They'll rise to the challenge and do well -- just beware of anyone whose spiteful remarks get under their skin. They certainly won...Read More »

Aries (March 21 - April 19)
Which do you enjoy more, cooking or eating? You have a chance to do one but not the other today, either figuratively or literally, so pick wisely. As long as you stay within budget, the choice is yours.
Today's Aries Reading: Free Sample Daily Grind Reading

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
Your cozy bed, the couch, the television -- things around the house sure look appealing today. Can you afford to loll around in your robe for a change? You certainly deserve a day of rest -- take one.
Today's Taurus Reading: Free Sample Celtic Love Tarot Reading
...Read More »
Gemini (May 21 - June 21)
You're not the type to mope or get moody when you don't get what you want -- you get right back up and try again. You aren't letting the 'if at first you don't succeed' part stop you in- If these girls look familiar, it's time to make a change.

Cosmopolitan
By Maria Coder
1. The "Mami "
You remember your colleagues' birthdays, jump in when they're running behind, and even volunteer to fix their slip-ups. In fact, you're so busy helping others with their work that your own projects are languishing. "It's alright to help your co-workers, but it's not okay for you to become a caretaker," explains psychologist Mildred Borras, who counsels people on personal and career matters. "If you're helping someone, make sure to set boundaries. You don't want to make this a habit because, eventually, you'll make your co-workers dependent on you and set yourself up to feel angry, resentful and victimized." Instead, Dr. Borras says, collaborate with your peers on projects and keep your volunteerism in check.
2. The Drama Queen
Everything you do is Oscar worthy...including your latest paper cut. "Drama, when used effectively, can be a good thing," says Maria Hinojosa, an award-winning journ...Read More » I tend to dread packing so much that I hold it off until the very last second - sometimes that means 3AM as I'm running to get into the airport shuttle. Since I've discovered these 7 tips for perfect packing, packing has been a breeze. Simple changes, like packing clothes in a similar color scheme, have made such a difference. Even the kids have started to do their part by packing outfits into individual plastic baggies for each day of the trip. Before you pull your hair out while packing for your next family vaycay, check out these 7 tips for perfect packing to help you along the way…- By Jacinda Boneau
MORE ON BABBLE
15 travel must-haves for a more peaceful trip
5 tips for spending less on family trips
9 ways to connect with your spouse on a family vacation
...Read More »
MOST POPULAR
Today on Yahoo!
Follow Shine
PICK OF THE DAY
Shopping steals in Jan. Work + Money
