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5 Great Tips for Catching Big Fluke in August and September

By Chuck Christopher 8/10/23


1.) Fish the reefs and the ship wrecks. During August and September, large fluke tend to hold out in artificial reefs, ship wrecks and rocky bottoms that hold an abundance of sea life. At this time of year, they are feeding on a variety of baitfish before they move off shore to deeper water.


2.) Artificial bait can work great for catching big fluke. There is quite a variety of artificial fluke bait on the market today. I really like one of Berkley’s… They have a Gulp swimming mullet that comes in 4” – 6” sizes. They work great whether you attach them to a bucktail, jig or hook.


3.) Have patience because bigger fluke are smarter. Small, younger fluke are more aggressive than larger, more mature fluke and often attack bait very quickly. Larger fluke usually tend to take their time before eating the entire bait. If you get a bite, do not jerk your rod right away. Instead, let the fluke pull the rod before you give it a good yank. If it is not hooked when you pull your rod up, wait a minute because your bait might still be on and the fluke might come back again.


4.) Tides can make a big difference. In general, most fishermen would agree that the first hour and the last of either tide are usually the best feeding times for catching large fluke. Big Fluke do not eat constantly. Large fluke only eat for a short time and then smaller ones finish up what’s left.


5.) Classic live bait and lures for catching big fluke. Live peanut bunker, sand eels and killies have a long history of catching big fluke and should not be ignored. The same goes for Hopkins and Kastmaster lures and bucktails. 

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5 Great Tips for Money on College Tuition

By Chuck Christopher 8/8/23


1.) Get your associates degree at a community college. The majority of college freshman really do not know what profession they want to pursue on a full-time basis when they finish college and enter the workforce fulltime. Therefore, financially speaking, the intelligent thing to do is to let the student experiment at a community college while continuing to live at home and work part-time. At a minimum they can get their required general education classes out of the way. Depending on the parent’s income bracket, the cost of an associate’s degree at a community college can range from zero to about one third or even one quarter of the cost of a private school.


2.) Apply for scholarships and grants. There are billions of dollars in grants and scholarships available in 2023 and the great thing about them is that they do not have to be paid back! The best time to begin applying for scholarships and grants is during the summer of your junior year. A lot of time should be spent pursuing scholarships and grants because the more money you are awarded the less you will have to borrow in the form of student or private loans.


3.) Let your employer pay for your degree. There are many employers who will still hire you right out of high school and pay for your degree. For example, major fast food restaurants, retail stores and hospitals are great examples of employers who offer tuition reimbursement in exchange for working full-time.


4.) Join one of the branches of the armed forces on the GI Bill. GI Bill benefits can help pay for college, graduate school and other work-related training programs. Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualified veterans and their family members get funding to cover all or some of the costs for school or training.


5.) Get your college degree online. Many degrees can be obtained 100% online in 2023. Since colleges offering online courses have far less overhead, they can afford to pass the savings on to you. Also, If a college student can live at home, they will save about $10,000 a year in room and board costs. They will also save thousands of dollars more on commuting costs over four years.   

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5 Great Tips for Saving on Groceries

By Chuck Christopher 8/7/23


1.) Buy generic brands whenever possible. Buying generic can save you a bundle of money if the substitution is a quality product. By reading product labels, you can compare name brands to generic. If they are comparable and the generic version is 25% less for example, it may make sense to buy generic… The product must taste good if it is food and it must get the job done correctly if it is an essential product like toilet paper… Cheaply made toilet paper is not a bargain!


2.) Sign up for a grocery store rewards card. This is a no-brainer yet many people still do not sign up for grocery store reward cards. Every week grocery stores offer exclusive discounts on many products to reward’s cardholders. Also, cardholders accumulate points that can be accumulated and redeemed for money off groceries. Reward cards are free to sign up so there is no reason not to get one!


3.) Buy in bulk when it makes sense. If you can buy a 12 pack of toilet paper or paper towels instead of a 3 pack, it generally makes great sense financially speaking. Even if it takes you several months to use them up because they will not spoil. Buying fresh fruit or vegetables in bulk quantity is a different story. Most fresh fruit and vegetables will spoil within a week or two. Buying large boxes or cereal can make good sense if you eat it on a regular basis so it does not get stale.   


4.) Stick to your shopping list. Before going grocery shopping, always write down exactly what you need along with the amount you are willing to pay for each item and do not deviate from the list or add any items to it. For example, if you have budgeted $100.00 a week for groceries and your list adds up to $98.00, that is good. If you start buying things in addition to the items on your list, that is generally bad. Impulse purchases simply make grocery store owners richer and the general public poorer! That said, you should always keep a little extra money with you when you go to the grocery store just in case there is a big sale on a necessity such as toothpaste or toilet paper. A necessity is not junk food or alcohol!   


5.) Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Most grocery stores stock their healthier items like milk, eggs, cheese, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, fresh fish, and fresh meat along the outer walls. Most junk food such as cookies, chips, ice cream, soda, cupcakes and candy are usually stocked within the interior isles of grocery stores. In general, if you shop the perimeter and avoid interior isles, you will save money and probably eat a lot healthier.

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5 Great Tips for Staying in Shape After 50

By Chuck Christopher 8/3/23


1.) Make a commitment to get in and stay in shape. This is the most important thing you can do regarding getting in and staying in shape. You must commit 100% to eating healthy and exercising on a consistent basis. For example, eat healthy and exercise 6 out of 7 days a week. On the 7th day, do not go crazy, but maybe enjoy an ice cream cone or go out to dinner and take the day off from exercising. Unfortunately, most out of shape people have it backwards, they eat poorly 6 out of 7 days a week and exercise one day a week if that.   


2.) Create an exercise and diet journal. There are plenty of apps out there to record your daily diet and exercises, but I do not recommend using them. I highly suggest that you get a simple notebook once a year and write everything down in it. At the end of the year, review your progress, set goals for next year and save that notebook for future reference and inspiration.


3.) Do not rely on other people. It is okay to have an exercise partner, but do not let them affect your commitment to staying in shape. For example, if your walking partner cancels on you at the last minute, so what. Get your ass moving! If your gym partner is also your weight lifting spotter and they cancel on you, so what. Get your ass to the gym and do a workout that do not require a spotter! Also, just because your spouse my not be committed to getting in and staying shape, do not let them deter you!


4.) Start slowly and build up momentum. If you are out of shape and have never exercised much, start off slowly. For example, do just one push-up, one crunch and walk for one minute today. If you can keep this up for one month, you will be able to do 30 push-ups a day, 30 sit-ups and walk 30 minutes. I am living proof that this method works… I currently do about 1,000 push-ups a day and it only takes about 15 minutes. Not bad for someone in their mid-50’s!   


5.) Do not let the weather or your occupation interrupt your commitment to exercise. Weather is one of the weakest excuses for not exercising. If the weather is not ideal to exercise or drive to the gym, you need a backup plan! Exercise at home… Running in place, push-ups, crunches, planks, etc. are not affected by weather. As far as work is concerned, simply work out around your work schedule… There are 24 hours in a day and you can find the time if you are “COMMITTED” to getting and staying in shape!

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5 Great Tips for Saving Money on Back-To-School Supplies

By Chuck Christopher 8/2/23


1.) Purchase back-to-school supplies in bulk. Generally, it makes a lot of sense to buy items like notebooks, pens, and pencils in bulk. For example, instead of buying a just few notebooks, buy a 10 or 20 pack. You can usually save 25 to 50% by doing this. Even if you only have one child, this makes sense because he or she can use any notebooks left after this upcoming school year in future years.


2.) Compare back-to-school sales. Do not just assume that you will save more money by shopping for back-to-school supplies exclusively online. Many times, the best back-to-school sales are not only online but instead are at actual brick and mortar stores. Big box retailers like Walmart, Staples and Costco often have great sales on back-to-school items just to get you into their stores with the hope that you will purchase higher priced items while you are there.


3.) Look into refurbished computers and phones. Instead of running out and purchasing a new laptop or cell phone, you should consider buying a certified used model from reputable sellers such as Amazon. If you are set on only purchasing new electronics, consider last year’s models. It is funny how many people waste so much money buying a new phone or computer every year… At this point, there are not enough technological breakthroughs to warrant the purchase of a new laptop or cell phone more often than every 4 or 5 years!


4.) You can save big bucks at thrift stores and flea markets on back-to-school supplies and clothes. One way to avoid the high inflation that we have been experiencing over the last few years is to hit flea markets and thrift stores. It always amazes me when my daughter comes home with three new or almost new shirts from one of the local thrift stores for under $10.00. The same goes for the Goodwill store in our area.


5.) Some states offer sales tax holidays that can create additional back-to-school savings. The following states offer certain days every year in which you do not have to pay sales tax on certain items: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia.  Be sure to visit each state’s website because different rules apply to each state.

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5 Great Tips for Saving Money on Your Electric Bill

By Chuck Christopher 8/1/23


1.) Switch all of your Incandescent light bulbs LED light bulbs. There will be an initial cost to replace your existing light bulbs, but the savings will be instant and long lasting... Approximately 10 to 20 years! You could save as much as $20.00 per bulb per year depending on usage.


2.) Plug everything you can into power strips and turn them off when not in use. Instead of plugging everything directly into electrical sockets, plug as many electronic devices as possible into power strips and turn off the strips when not in use. If you plug everything such as cell phones, computers, appliances and lamps into power strips and turn them off from 10PM to 8AM every night, you will notice a significant drop in your electric bill. Especially keep this in mind when you go on vacation!


3.) Manually controlling your thermostat can save you thousands of dollars a year off of your electric bill! Many people leave their heat on 68 degrees and their air conditioning on 70 degrees at all times because they think it is the most efficient way to save money. By manually controlling the thermostat, I have found that our electric bill is 40 to 50% less than most people we know. In the winter, if no one is home or we are sleeping, we turn the heat down to 58 degrees. In the summer, we turn the air conditioning down to 68 degrees at about 8pm and back up to 73 degrees at 8am. The air will not kick on again until about 2PM, unless it is extremely hot outside. In general, this method of saving money on your electrical bill works excellent.


4.) Only buy appliances with high ENERGY STAR ratings. When replacing household appliances that no longer work, you should really only consider those with high ENERGY STAR ratings. For air conditioners, a rating of 8.5 and higher, for a clothes washer, a rating of A or B, for a clothes dryer, a rating of A+ to A+++, for a dishwasher, a rating of A or B. By buying appliances within these ENERGY STAR ratings ranges, you will save a lot of money over time compared to older appliances. The greatest way to save money regardless of whether your appliances are old or new is to run them at full capacity... Running a dishwasher with just a few dishes or a clothes washer or dryer with just a pair of pants is NOT at all efficient!


5.) Installing Solar Panels. My feelings on installing solar panels are mixed. Most traditional solar panels are still very UGLY with the exception of Tesla's Solar Roof, which is a combination roof shingle and solar panel. Another important thing to consider with traditional solar panels is that unless your roof is in excellent shape and not too old, you will most likely have to replace it prior to installing the solar panels on top of it! Let's look at an example of how long an investment in traditional solar panels could take to pay off: 


$17,000 (Cost to have a solar panel system installed)
- $5,000 (Rebates you receive)
= $12,000 Investment (Your total cost after incentives)                                                                                                         


$1,200 Savings Per Year (Total savings per year if your solar panels reduce your energy bill by $100 each month)

$12,000 Investment / $1,200 Savings Per Year = 10 Year Solar Payback Period.

There is another very important thing to consider regarding when purchasing a traditional solar panel system... Unless your roof is in excellent shape and not too old, you will most likely have to replace it prior to installing the solar panels on top of it... Maybe another $5,000 to $10,000!

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5 Great Tips for Catching Largemouth Bass in August

By Chuck Christopher 8/1/23


1.) Look for areas that have abundant oxygen levels. Search out dense, healthy, green vegetation and you will likely find concentrations of largemouth bass.


2.) There are several classic lures that work well for catching largemouth bass in August. They include Texas-rigged plastic worms, skirted jigs, topwater frogs, deep-diving crankbaits.


3.) Live bait works excellent for catching largemouth bass in August. Some choices include minnows, shiners, herring, garden worms and night crawlers.


4.) Fish early in the morning or after the sun goes down. When the water temperature is high and the oxygen level is low, largemouth bass are extremely lethargic and far less likely to hit your lure or bait.


5.) Fish the shallows. During the dog days of August, largemouth bass usually stay shallow, typically less than 8 feet.

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5 Great Tips to help newlyweds stay married

By Chuck Christopher 8/1/23


1.) Don't hang out at bars. If you go to a bar, you should do it as a couple. You're probably better off keeping alcohol and all drugs (Including cannabis) out of your lives.


2.) Don't live beyond your means. Most married couples live far beyond their means today. A few suggestions: Cars should be purchased simply to get from point A to point B. They should not be purchased to show off. A new car is NOT an investment, it's a guaranteed loss! A big house and yard usually come with high utility bills, high property taxes and a lot of maintenance. As far as credit cards go, the interest rate really does not matter as long as you pay off the entire balance monthly.


3.) Don't drop your friends once you're married. This is a big mistake that most couples make! Make it a point to maintain individual friendships with people you knew before you got married. If a guy can't go fishing or to a sporting event with a friend after he's married, he picked the wrong mate. If a woman can't go clothes shopping or to get her nails done with a friend after she's married, she married the wrong guy. Being married can be great, but it should not control your lives!


4.) Take an interest in your spouse's interests. Maybe a man likes to go see a live football game, but his wife has no interest. Maybe a woman wants to go to a concert, but her husband does not like the artist. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices and show an interest even when none exists.


5.) Limit the number of children you have. This will help you limit your expenses and keep your sex life alive. Contrary to popular belief, two kids are not twice as fun as one and a third child generally means your sex life is about done... Unless you attempt to have a fourth child! Just ask someone who has three kids how often they have sex. Here's an extra tip from a man's perspective... In general, if we do not have sex at least weekly with our wives, we are going to go after other women... The way to a man's heart is NOT through his stomach, it's through his penis!

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5 Great Tips for Catching Blue Claw Crabs In August and September

By Chuck Christopher 8/1/23


1.) Make sure you have an extendable crab net. Ther's nothing worse than seeing a big blue claw crab hanging on a piling and not being able to reach it because your crab net is only 5'. It is well worth it to invest a few dollars and purchase a telescoping crab net that is at least 6' long but extends to 11'.


2.) Chicken legs tend to be the most consistent bait for catching blue claw crabs. It seems that everyone has their own special bait that they like to use when crabbing. Some people like to use bait fish such as killies or mossbunker (menhaden). Others like to use fluke or bluefish heads. I've used all of them, but ordinary chicken legs (drumsticks) have worked most consistently for me for decades.


3.) Incoming tide is usually best for catching blue claw crabs on droplines. When using droplines to catch blue claw crabs, incoming tide is generally best because crabs usually follow schools of baitfish (Which they feed on) and baitfish tend to go in and out with the tide.


4.) Outgoing tide is usually best for catching blue claw crabs when they are hanging on docks and pilings. The reason outgoing tide is often best when scooping blue claw crabs is simply because as the tide goes down, you are able to see more crabs than when the tide was higher.


5.) You will usually catch more blue claw crabs with droplines compared to crab traps. The reason for this is simple, crabs are not stupid. Crabs tend to be more hesitant to go into a crab trap because they have to climb into a cage which may take them a while. A simple line tied to a chicken leg appears not to be a threat.

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