Kimberly Lankford Money Power: Invest in yourself, better body, mind
BY KIMBERLY LANKFORD Money Power
Sunday, January 06, 2013
1/06/13 at 7:03 AM
Here are four ways to invest in yourself with as little as $1,000. Think of them as ways to strengthen your body and expand your mind.
Buy a bicycle and ride to work. Commuting by bike has both physical and financial benefits (see our bicycling commuter cost calculator at tulsaworld.com/bikecalculator). For $1,000, you can buy a good bike and a good helmet (think of it as cheap life and health insurance). If your ride to work isn't too onerous, consider the eight-speed Jamis Commuter 4 ($950). It has traditional handlebars, a padded seat and it's equipped with fenders and a luggage rack. For longer commutes, the Raleigh Port Townsend (about $900) has drop-style handlebars and 18 speeds, as well as commuter-friendly fenders and a front rack.
Self-publish a book. Making a paper or digital version of your masterpiece is free at Amazon's CreateSpace.com (the publisher takes a percentage of your sales), but you'll have to pay if you want help with editing and design. Among CreateSpace's services, for example, is the $728 Total Design Freedom Standard package, in which a professional team designs the book's cover and interior based on your input. Tack on Comprehensive Copyediting for $160 (up to 10,000 words; 1.6 cents per word thereafter).
Hire a personal trainer. Fortify your resolution to get and stay fit. A one-on-one session with a certified trainer, in your home or at a club, ranges from $40 to $100 an hour, according to the American Council on Exercise, the largest U.S. certifying agency. If you share a coach with a few friends, you can bring the hourly price to $20 to $30 each (giving you at least 33 sessions for $1,000). To find an ACE-certified trainer, go to tulsaworld.com/acefitness and click on "ACE GetFit."
Learn Chinese. Expand your language skills with lessons in Mandarin Chinese, the world's most widely spoken language. Beijing Language and Culture University's four-week language programs for international students cost as little as $950 for tuition and dorm accommodations. You'll pay extra for the application fee (about $95), airfare and food. For more information, visit tulsaworld.com/studyinblcu
Closer to home, try a 12-month subscription to Rosetta Stone's TOTALe Online (regularly $299, but look for specials at rosettastone.com).
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Original Print Headline: Invest in yourself, better body, mind
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