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Many employers offer the benefit of 401(k) plans. These plans allow employees to put aside a percentage of their salary each pay period to invest in stocks, bonds and mutual funds. In addition, many larger companies offer matching plans. You personally contribute a set amount of money; let's say 3% and your company will match that 3% with their own 3% (essentially free money). You should definitely take advantage of both employer 401K plans, as well as a company's matching of funds. Be sure to talk to your employer about the conditions of the 401(k) plan and matching, for example contribution/matching limits or time constraints. An IRA, or individual retirement account, is a type of account that can be used to easily save for retirement. You can contribute up to $5,500 per year to an IRA, and may be able to contribute up to $6,500 if you are over 50. Your contribution limit depends on your income, and some high-earning individuals or households may not qualify to contribute to an IRA at all. Talk to a financial professional about your options when selecting an IRA. If you change jobs, you may have a gap period in which you are unable to contribute to retirement or unable to qualify for the company plan at your new job. In this instances, work to still save the same amount you did before in an IRA or personal investment account. Any gaps just mean that you will have to contribute more to the account later in order to meet your goal. For younger investors, you have the option of investing in high risk vehicles. For instance, you can buy international stocks or purchase large amounts of small-cap stock (stock in small and growing companies). Because you have lots of time to grow your investments you won't be completely devastated if your investments decline. For those that have built up a substantial nest egg and are close to retirement, your best bet is to stick with low to moderate investments; you don't want to lose your entire retirement the year before you plan on retiring.

summary: Take advantage of employer plans. Contribute to an IRA. Counteract retirement savings gaps. Go high risk if you're younger.

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Use drops of water on a brush to prepare each of the colors. Have at hand, a few brushes of varying sizes, including a small, pointed brush for details. Also, have a container of clean water and tissues to keep runs and drips in control. Start at any point you wish; the container, the leaves and flowers or the hangers of strings or ropes. Move your brush over the objects, painting sections and leaving dry paper between them to keep the colors from bleeding into each other. If you want to do two sections close together, leave a tiny strip of untouched paper between bands of color. These can be filled in after the whole thing is dry. Darken or intensify the color in places with another coat of the same color. Put in details with a small, pointed brush. On leaves, you might add spots, lines or veins. For the flowers, use contrasting color to show shadows within them. Give the container added interest with texture, a colorful pattern, or shadows to show its roundness and depth. Make the background more interesting that leaving it white. Add any number of environmental things; clouds, diagonal strokes for rain, yellow for sunshine, purple or dark blue for evening or night. Wash on a layer of any one color for a background. Use varied colors for a lively background, make horizontal or vertical stripes. Let your imagination be free. Give the piece its own frame with stripes of color from a flat brush all around all sides of it. Do a large geometric shape in pencil behind the hanging basket and paint it a contrasting color. They will be extra special since you thought them up and made them appear on the paper. This container of flowers will always be in bloom and can add happiness and fun to a place where it hangs.

summary: Open your watercolor box and activate the colors. Paint your design. Consider ways to add to the piece. Enjoy the fact that your art can bring flowers into your life at will.

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Lean proteins, such as chicken and fish, are essential if you're trying to get rid of belly fat. High-quality lean proteins help stabilize your blood sugar and fill you up, keeping you from feeling the urge to snack on unhealthy foods later. Eating plenty of lean proteins can also help regulate your insulin and cortisol levels, both of which help get rid of your muffin top. Wild salmon is a particularly good source of lean protein that also contains belly fat-fighting omega-3 fatty acids. Eggs are also a great source of lean protein that contain relatively few calories. Eggs are also generally inexpensive, making them a great option for fighting belly fat on a budget. Like lean proteins, eating more fiber is essential for getting rid of your muffin top. Fibrous foods help you stay full and satisfied longer, decreasing your desire to snack and your caloric intake. Apples, bananas, raspberries, pears, and strawberries are all high fiber fruits that can help fill you up and fight belly fat. Broccoli, brussels sprouts, turnip greens, and green peas all contain several grams of fiber per serving. Antioxidant-rich foods, such as kale and spinach, can reduce inflammation that contributes to belly fat. In addition, these foods contain several of the vitamins your body needs to stay healthy and keep on track with your fat-burning plan. Green tea is also a great fat-burning option that is high in antioxidants. While it may seem counter-intuitive to increase your intake of fat, healthy unsaturated fats can actually fight belly fat rather than add to it. Avocados, olive oil, raw nuts, and fish are all great sources of monounsaturated fats that will fill you up and give you more energy without increasing unwanted body fat. In contrast to unsaturated fats, which can fight belly fat, saturated and trans fats, such as those found in processed cheese, can contribute to belly fat and easily derail your progress. Sugar is likely one of the biggest contributors to the development of your muffin top. Foods that are high in processed sugar tend to be very high in calories, which can be difficult to burn off. Processed sugar can also be addictive, causing you to overindulge and increase the amount of fat stored in your belly. Therefore, to get rid of your muffin top, it's crucial that you avoid consuming too much sugar and instead, focus on filling up on healthier options. While it's important to cut back on sugar, you don't need to give it up entirely to get rid of your muffin top. Try to eat sugar only occasionally and practice portion control when you do. When you're craving something sweet, try eating fruit instead of anything made with processed sugar. While fruits are still high in sugar, the natural sugar found in fruits is much less likely to contribute to belly fat. To help get rid of your muffin top, avoid eating highly processed carbohydrates, including white bread, pastries, cookies, cake, white rice, and potato products. While eating some healthy carbohydrates helps fuel your body for workouts, processed carbohydrates can increase your insulin levels and, in turn, increase or maintain the amount of fat stored in your belly. Insulin keeps fat where it's currently stored. Therefore, if you have a muffin top, increasing your insulin levels can keep your belly fat where it is. Instead of processed carbohydrates, focus on eating healthy, whole grain carbohydrates, such as quinoa and oats. Skipping meals can increase your cortisol levels, which can contribute to belly fat. Therefore, it's important that you make an effort to eat regularly to help manage your body's stress hormones. Eating healthy snacks and regular meals will also help keep you from overeating or snacking late at night. Eating regularly also keeps your metabolism from lagging, which is essential for getting rid of your muffin top.
summary: Fill up on lean proteins. Incorporate more healthy fiber into your diet. Consume plenty of antioxidant-rich options. Add more healthy fats into your diet. Avoid consuming too much processed sugar. Steer clear of processed carbohydrates. Eat healthy meals regularly to keep up your metabolism.