HoserLife|Want to live life like a true Hoser, read on.

For many people, the connotation of flying economy class sends shivers down the spine.  Economy class may be the step daughter of the airline industry; however it is responsible for the majority of travelers and for most people is perfectly fine and quite comfortable.

For most people, it isn’t worth paying hundreds of dollars more to have a better meal or a leather seat.  Many people who fly economy wouldn’t be able to fly unless the fares are low enough and although economy class is usually seen as sub par, it is mainly a gimmick so that people pay a lot extra for some extra refinements.

Economy class does have its low points though, it usually has the least amount of room and this should definitely be a consideration if you are extra tall or weigh a lot.  Most seats in economy class are usually the least comfortable and covered in cloth. However, if you are only flying for a few hours, it should be more than fine.  There are plenty of chairs in most people’s living rooms less comfortable than economy airline seating.

If you are looking for a great airline fare and aren’t that choosy on amenities, economy class is usually a great way to fly.
 

First class is where airlines try to give their passengers the best in service, seating and amenities.  First class seating usually consists of extra wide seats made from the best leather or materials, lots of leg room, top quality gourmet food, excellent wines and liquors and plenty of service for passengers that  require assistance or just want to enjoy a flight.

First class is usually two to three times the amount of a standard airline fare, but for many people that either fly for business or are on a special once in a lifetime trip is well worth the monetary value for the level of service that they receive.

Everything in first class is done to satisfy the passenger.  You can enjoy a gourmet meal developed by a leading chef and eat it with real silverware and dinnerware.  You also have a choice of fine wines and top shelf liquors.

Comfort is taken to a new level, with some first class seats being able to fully recline, like a bed for extra long trips.  There is usually plenty of entertainment available such as satellite TV, music and magazines.  Service is usually at a much higher ratio than economy or even business class.  If you have the resources or are on a once in a lifetime trip, it definitely pays to fly first class.
 

For most seasoned travelers a good level of service and comfort at a decent price is business class.  Business class is a great way to get more amenities at a price that won’t break your individual or companies budget.  It is also a great way for airlines to reward their loyal passengers without giving them truly expensive fares away.  Here are some tips on business class.

Business class is exactly what it states; it is mainly used for passengers that are traveling for business.  If you are a family with children, business class is definitely not for you, you will probably disturb the majority of passengers working on the flight.  Business class is usually quiet, has comfortable amenities so that people can get work done, read, write emails, etc.  Usually business class seating is wider and has more leg room.  Also most business class seating does not have any middle seats, so everyone is comfortable.

Food and amenities are also at a higher level than economy.  Expect better food, more comfortable pillows and linens and a more insulated feeling than in economy class. For most business class passengers, they have either paid a premium or have been rewarded by the airline; it is safe to say that business class is usually well worth the extra cost to many of these frequent fliers.
 

Besides the right price and flight destination, there is a lot that goes into choosing the right airline.  While most people that fly often know how to determine the right airline, if you fly seldom or not at all, here are some tips on choosing the right airline.

First, think of the services that matter most to you.  For some people, it is extra leg room, especially if you are tall.  For others it is good food or extras such as satellite TV. Some travelers sometimes pick an airline based on the reward programs that they belong to.

Another way to choose an airline is to do some research on a few airlines that fit your budget and routes.  For business travelers that fly often, choosing the right airline can mean the difference between being well rested or annoyed at the quality of service.  While some business travelers don’t have the choice of choosing their own airline, many entrepreneurs do and should choose wisely.

Some of the more popular airlines are low cost airlines, but don’t let their cheap fares fool you.  They are just as safe and service oriented as full price airlines.  Some low cost airlines even have extras that regular airline don’t have, such as leather seats, video games and satellite TV.

One of the major selling points today for airports is their airline lounges.  Airports for some business travelers end up being destinations in themselves. Many road warriors spend plenty of time in airline lounges and even hold meetings at them to cut costs in time and money.  Here are some tips on airline lounges.

Some airports have lounges dedicated to one airline; however, many airports now host companies that have airline lounges throughout many different popular airport routes, for instance, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston.

Airline lounges usually have plenty of business services that make being at an airport, similar to being at the office.  You can easily hook into a wifi hotspot, have access to fax machines, printers and in some cases entire copy shops.  There are also plenty of desk space and even meeting rooms so that you can put on a presentation or talk with others in a business environment.

Airline lounges usually either charge by the day or for a yearly membership.  Rates vary, but you can expect to be charged about $30 and up for use of the facilities for a day.  For many road warriors, a lounge is a great way to get work done, instead of kill time in an airport corridor.

One of the most frustrating and annoying aspects of purchasing airfare and traveling are the extra fees.  Today, there are many extra fees that invariably hike up the prices of most travel services.  If you are looking to avoid excessive fees, here are some tips.

Some of the more common fees are those for extra baggage, baggage that is over a set amount of weight, canceling tickets, upgrading or downgrading tickets, changing the name on a ticket, and changing the date on a ticket. 

If you are planning on traveling, before you purchase your tickets, make sure you read the fine print; this can usually alert you to the airlines procedures and fee schedule.  You can find out ahead of time, how much certain upgrades or changes to your tickets will cost.

If you don’t travel light, make sure you find out the fees for extra baggage or for going over a certain weight.  With increases in fuel prices, many airlines are adding a mandatory fee for extra bags and over the weight limit items.  You can pay over $100 in some circumstances to add an extra bag to storage.  If you want to avoid extra fees, make sure you plan ahead and either call or visit the airlines website.

If you are a frequent flier and would like to save on your airfare purchases, or if you don’t fly often and would like to fly for free, one of the ways to accomplish this goal is by being a member in an air travel rewards program.

You can either sign up for a rewards program through an airline that you use, or many credit cards have programs associated with their cards that can earn you free miles and essentially a free trip if you use your card enough.  Most travel rewards programs are free to join and some of them are great ways to earn miles and trips.  Before you sign up, read the fine print, you might find that the way you buy airline tickets or the way that you use your credit card is not in line with rewards points. 

If you want to find the best rewards programs, you should definitively go online and visit the many forums dedicated to air travel rewards programs. You can learn a lot about the best programs and the worst programs being offered.  You can also hear about special offers that can make it easier for you to earn miles or points so that you can earn free travel, upgrades or significant savings.
 

If you have problems serving healthy foods because of the prices, you’ll find these tips to be just what you need to eat healthy on a budget.

1.  Eliminate junk food
Doing your shopping on your own is the easiest way to shop, as children and sometimes spouses are usually the ones requesting junk food.  Shopping alone will prevent this, and ensure that you only buy the foods you need.

2.  Water or milk instead of soft drinks You can still enjoy your favorite drinks at a sporting event or night out, although you should stick with the smallest size when shopping to save money and calories.  Children and even adults need milk or milk products on a daily basis.  Milk will also help you get strong and provides calcium for healthy bones and healthy teeth.

3.  Buy fruits in quantity

When they are in season, buy fruits in quantity and freeze any extras.  You can buy several pounds this way, and freeze extras to have them when the fruit goes out of season.  Wash the fruit well,  remove any spoiled pieces, dry thoroughly, then freeze in plastic zipper bags.

4.  Meats and beans

Meats and beans are the best sources for protein. Lean meat is more expensive than meats with a lot of fat.  Canned beans are a great deal as well, as they give you protein at a great price.

5.  Beans as a substitute

You should use beans a substitute for meat on a frequent occasion.  There are several varieties, so you can prepare them in a crock pot, so when you return home they are ready to consume.

The USDA recommends eating beans at least 4 times per week.  If you experience gas after eating beans you should try washing them, covering them with water, bringing the water to a boil, then draining it off and refilling the pot. 

6.  If you live in a coastal area or an area where fish are around, make that an integral part of your diet.  You can catch them from the lakes or rivers, saving money in the process.

7.  Peanut butter is great for those on a budget as it’s popular with almost everyone.  You can use it for sandwiches instead of eating hot dogs.  It does need to be refrigerated, although bigger jars can last you for weeks.

Eating healthy is always something you can’t go wrong with.  You can eat healthy for just a few bucks, which makes it perfect for those on a budget. Now, you don’t need a lot of money to have the lifestyle and health you’ve always wanted.
 

Being a healthy eater requires you to become both educated and smart about what healthy eating actually is.  Being food smart isn’t about learning to calculate grams or fat, or is it about studying labels and counting calories.

Healthy eating is all about balanced and moderate eating, consisting of healthy meals at least three times per day.  Healthy eaters eat many different types of foods, not limiting themselves to one specific food type or food group.

Eating healthy requires quite a bit of leeway.  You might eat too much or not enough, consume foods that are sometimes more or less nutritious. However, you should always fuel your body and your brain regularly with enough food to keep both your mind and body strong and alert.

A healthy eater is a good problem solver.  Healthy eaters have learned to take care of themselves and their eating with sound judgement and making wise decisions.  Healthy eaters are always aware of what they eat, and know the effect that it will have on their bodies.

When someone is unable to take control of their eating, they are also likely to get out of control with other aspects of life as well.  They could end up spending too much, talking too much, even going to bed later and later. 

You should always remember that restricting food in any way is always a bad thing.  Healthy eating is a way of life, something that you can do to enhance your body or your lifestyle.  If you’ve thought about making your life better, healthy eating is just the place to start.  You’ll make life easier for yourself, those around you, and even your family. 

Bad cholesterol or a bad diet is something we all
experience at some point in time.  It’s impossible
to eat healthy our whole lives, even though we may
try hard to do it.  Eating healthy for your heart
is something everyone should try to do, especially
when it comes to restoring health and reducing
heart attacks.

Your heart and food
We know these things for sure - a diet high in
saturated fats will help raise your cholesterol,
which is a risk factor for heart disease.  People
that are obese are more prone to heart disease.  A
diet high in sodium may elevate your blood pressure,
leading to inflammation and even heart disease.

To help prevent heart disease and improve your health,
put the tips below to good use.

Eat plenty of fish
Herring, sardines, and salmon are all excellent sources
of Omega 3 essential fatty acids.  Other fish are great
to, although Omega 3 may help to get your cholesterol
down to a healthier level.

Choosing healthy fats and oils
Saturated fat will increase the risk of heart disease.
It’s found in meat, butter, and even coconut oil.  You
should avoid them until your cholesterol levels are
down and you are at a healthy weight.  Even those
that love red meats can enjoy seafood and nuts for
their main sources of protein.

Monounsaturated fats such as olive oils will help
you to protect your heart.  Olive oil is an ideal
choice for cooking, dressing, or even as a dipping
sauce.

Plenty of fiber
Fiber can help you control your cholesterol.  You
can find fiber in whole grain products to help
control sugar absorption as well, which will help
you keep your digestive system healthy.

Choosing carbohydrates
Eating for your heart involves staying away from
sugary foods such as candy, cookies, cakes, and
pastries.  Eating a lot of sugar isn’t good for
your heart disease at all.  Healthy carbohydrates
involve whole grain breads, whole grain pasta, brown
rice, and a lot of vegetables.  You should make
fruits and vegetables the main aspect of your diet.

Healthy cooking methods
Stir frying and sauteing with olive oil or canola
oil are both great methods, as you shouldn’t dip
your food in batter and fry it anymore.  If you
cook chicken, remove the skin and bake it in the
oven in foil.

Instead of frying your fish you should always bake
it.  Steaming your vegetables can help maintain the
most nutrients.  You should use cream sauces or lots
of butter anymore either.  When you eat vegetables,
try squeezing lemon juice on them or using your
favorite seasonings.

As you make the proper changes to your diet, keep in
mind that it takes time for them to become habits. 
Eating healthy is always great for your body and your
lifestyle, especially when it comes to your heart and
the prevention of heart disease.