Thursday, December 31, 2009

The procrastinator’s rule of thumb

The procrastinator’s rule of thumb. Procrastination is the act of putting off or delaying something that must be done. "Do the worst first" is the simple rule of thumb to beat procrastination of a difficult or unpleasant job.
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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The leadership rule of thumb

The leadership rule of thumb. A good leadership rule of thumb says leaders should never spend more time considering what some have not accomplished versus celebrating what they have accomplished.
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The decision-making rule of thumb

The decision-making rule of thumb. How much information is required before making a decision? A good rule of thumb that many successful leaders follow says when they have sixty percent of the information they need to make a decision, they go ahead and make it.
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Monday, December 28, 2009

The estate planning rule of thumb

The estate planning rule of thumb. Warren Buffet is the world’s best-known stock market investor. Warren Buffet's estate planning rule of thumb says a wealthy person should leave his kids enough to do anything but not enough to do nothing.
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Sunday, December 27, 2009

The 3-times mortgage rule of thumb

The 3-times mortgage rule of thumb. There are several methods to determine how much mortgage you can afford. A good mortgage rule of thumb says you can take on a mortgage that is roughly three times your annual income.
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Saturday, December 26, 2009

The stress relief rule of thumb

The stress relief rule of thumb. According to recent research, up to 90% of all health problems are related to stress. A good rule of thumb for managing busy or stressful periods says deal with it, delegate it, or dump it.
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Thursday, December 24, 2009

The fumble rule of thumb

The fumble rule of thumb. During a football game, a fumble may result in a pile of players fighting for possession of the ball. When this occurs, the rule of thumb for officials is survival of the fittest: whoever has last possession after the pile of players has been untangled gets the ball.
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The double yellow rule of thumb

The double yellow rule of thumb. Most home buyers look to purchase a home that will continue to appreciate after purchase. To this end, a good real estate rule of thumb says never buy a house on a road with a double yellow line.
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The one-inch rule of thumb

The one-inch rule of thumb. You are better off dressing more conservative at work when given the choice. For ladies, the one-inch rules of thumb says skirts should not rise higher than an inch above the knee and heels should not be higher than an inch above the ground.
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Monday, December 21, 2009

The healthy company rule of thumb

The healthy company rule of thumb. A healthy company is certainly one that makes a profit. Restated another way, a general business rule of thumb says a company is healthy when it produces over $150,000 in revenue per employee.
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Sunday, December 20, 2009

The resume rule of thumb

The resume rule of thumb. Your professional resume is the very first impression a potential employer sees when you apply for a position. A fundamental resume rule of thumb says everything on a resume should be organized, relevant and, above all, true.
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Saturday, December 19, 2009

Welch’s business rule of thumb

Welch’s business rule of thumb. Jack Welch is the former chairman and CEO of General Electric. One of his many business rules of thumb says a company should sell or close a business or business unit that does not have a chance of being number one or two in its industry.
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Friday, December 18, 2009

The passion rule of thumb

The passion rule of thumb. Gregory Benford is a professor of physics and astronomy, a long-time advisor to NASA, and a novelist. A good rule of thumb coined by Benford says passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available.
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Thursday, December 17, 2009

The spelling rule of thumb

The spelling rule of thumb. There are many spelling rules of thumb to help make spelling a less difficult task. The most common spelling rule of thumb says "i before e except after c, or when pronounced as a."
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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The service price rule of thumb

The service price rule of thumb. A service business sells products to customers by serving or applying them. Examples include lawn cutting, hair styling and house cleaning. A business rule of thumb says a service business should charge their customers 2 to 2.5 times their cost in wages.
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The engagement ring cost rule of thumb

The engagement ring cost rule of thumb. A woman usually wears an engagement ring on her left hand, which indicates her upcoming marriage to the ring giver. A rule of thumb for how much to spend on an engagement ring suggests two month's salary.
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Monday, December 14, 2009

The "keep it or toss it" rule of thumb

The "keep it or toss it" rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for purging items in your closest, basement or garage says if you have not used the item in a year, get rid of it. Donate the items or sell them online.
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Sunday, December 13, 2009

The 1/2, 1/3, 1/6 rule of thumb

The 1/2, 1/3, 1/6 rule of thumb. There are several methods for writing an essay or article. A good rule of thumb says spend half your time researching and interviewing, one-third proofreading and editing, and one-sixth actually writing.
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Saturday, December 12, 2009

The design cost rule of thumb

The design cost rule of thumb. Product defect issues discovered beyond the design process usually cost more to correct. A good business rule of thumb says a problem costing $100 to resolve in the field would cost only $10 to correct if discovered during design.
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Friday, December 11, 2009

The incumbent rule of thumb

The incumbent rule of thumb. A political rule of thumb says it is easier to win an open seat than to defeat an incumbent. Depending on their political office, incumbents have many advantages over their challengers: name recognition, patronage jobs and increased fundraising activity.
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Thursday, December 10, 2009

The healthy water rule of thumb

The healthy water rule of thumb. Water is an essential ingredient in our bodies. A healthy living rule of thumb recommends the number of ounces of water per day as your body weight divided by two. For example, at 180 lbs you should drink about 90 ounces of water per day.
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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

The customer rule of thumb

The customer rule of thumb. It is easier to sell to an existing customer than to a new customer. A good business rule of thumb says customers will leave you for the same reason that they came to you.
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The repair rule of thumb

The repair rule of thumb. A classic situational rule of thumb says "if it aint broke, don’t fix it." This essentially means, unless there is a good reason to do something, do not do it.
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Monday, December 7, 2009

The closing cost rule of thumb

The closing cost rule of thumb. A home sale’s closing costs include attorney’s fees, title search, recording fees, and surveys. A real estate rule of thumb says a home sale's closing cost should equal about 5% of the sales price. For example, if a home’s purchase price is $200,000, closing costs will be about $10,000.
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Sunday, December 6, 2009

The rule of thumb for rules of thumb

The rule of thumb for rules of thumb. A rule of thumb presents simplified information or advice that helps you make a better decision. The rule of thumb for rules of thumb says if you use a rule of thumb you may not make the best decision. Be prepared for the consequences.
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Saturday, December 5, 2009

The jury deliberation rule of thumb

The jury deliberation rule of thumb. A court jury is comprised of six to twelve people whose duty is to render a rational, impartial verdict on legal issue brought before them. A rule of thumb for jury deliberation says a jury will take one day of deliberation for every week of trial.
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Friday, December 4, 2009

Amdahl's rule of thumb

Amdahl's rule of thumb. Gene Amdahl is a computer architect, known for his work on mainframe computers. Amdahl’s rule of thumb for computers says one byte of memory and one byte per second of I/O are required for each instruction per second supported by a computer.
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Thursday, December 3, 2009

The holiday rule of thumb

The holiday rule of thumb. A holiday season rule of thumb says your spouse and kids will likely benefit more from about twice as much time and attention from you, and about half as much of your money spent on them.
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The car budget rule of thumb

The car budget rule of thumb. Most car buyers usually finance some or all of their car purchase. A good rule of thumb on car loan payments says your monthly car payment should not exceed 8% of your monthly gross income.
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The rule of thumb origin

The rule of thumb origin. The phrase "rule of thumb" may have originated from beer making. Before the advent of modern thermometers, beer brewers would gauge when to add yeast by dipping a thumb into the mix to find the right temperature. This practice was dubbed the “rule of thumb”.
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Monday, November 30, 2009

The heat saver’s rule of thumb

The heat saver’s rule of thumb. Home owners in northern climates may lower the thermostat during sleeping hours in colder winter months in order to save on heating bills. A good money saving rule of thumb says lower the thermostat one degree for every two hours you will be asleep during the night.
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Sunday, November 29, 2009

The baker’s rule of thumb

The baker’s rule of thumb. Baked goods rely upon a preheated oven in order to bake properly. As an exception, a baking rule of thumb says any recipe that takes more than a full hour to bake completely can bake in a non-preheated oven.
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Saturday, November 28, 2009

The retirement withdraw rule of thumb

The retirement withdraw rule of thumb. As a general rule of thumb, a retiree can withdraw about 4% from his or her savings and investments per year and still keep the fund going indefinitely.
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Friday, November 27, 2009

The coffee rule of thumb

The coffee rule of thumb. The average cup of coffee contains about 85 mg of caffeine. Some coffee brands are higher, some lower. The rule of thumb for coffee says the darker the roast, the lower the caffeine content.
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Thursday, November 26, 2009

The college borrower’s rule of thumb

The college borrower’s rule of thumb. The average federal student loan debt among graduating seniors is nearly $20,000. A good rule of thumb says college students should keep total education debt below what they expect to earn in their first year out of college.
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The HR rule of thumb

The HR rule of thumb. "Hire slowly, fire quickly" is a good HR department hiring rule of thumb. On average, it costs a company about one-third of a new hire's annual salary to replace an employee.
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The ad layout rule of thumb

The ad layout rule of thumb. Most print advertisement designs are made up of illustration, headline, copy and logo. Designer and publisher Jacci Howard Bear's design rule of thumb says a well designed advertisement will look just as good upside down.
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Monday, November 23, 2009

The holiday budget rule of thumb

The holiday budget rule of thumb. The typical American consumer will spend between $700 and $1,000 during the holiday season. To hold the line on holiday spending, a personal finance rule of thumb says spend no more that 1.5% of your gross income on the holidays. This includes gifts, decorations, travel and wrapping paper.
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Sunday, November 22, 2009

The PC repair versus purchase rule of thumb

The PC repair versus purchase rule of thumb. Personal computers may be upgraded to extend their useful service for another year or so. A helpful rule of thumb in making this decision says upgrade if the cost of the upgrade is roughly half of the cost of getting a new system.
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Saturday, November 21, 2009

The retail price rule of thumb

The retail price rule of thumb. A business rule of thumb says if you are manufacturing a product there should be at least a ten-to-one markup ratio between the cost of making the product and the suggested retail price of the finished product.
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Friday, November 20, 2009

The refinance rule of thumb

The refinance rule of thumb. A financial rule of thumb says go with a home equity loan if current interest rates are higher than your existing mortgage rate. If current interest rates are lower than your existing mortgage rate, refinance your mortgage and pay it off at the lower rate.
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Thursday, November 19, 2009

The apology rule of thumb

The apology rule of thumb. An apology is often the first step to better understanding in a damaged relationship. A good old rule of thumb for apologies says a meaningful, effective apology should contain exactly one pronoun: I.
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Adages

Adages. An adage is like a rule of thumb. Adages are interesting observations, practical or ethical guidelines, or pessimistic comments on life. For example, "anything that can go wrong will" or "demand creates its own supply."
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The pulpit rule of thumb

The pulpit rule of thumb. For most, it generally takes from five to seven years to become a recognized preacher, priest, cleric or religious celebrant. An old rule of thumb says one hour of study for every minute at the pulpit.
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Monday, November 16, 2009

The commuter’s rule of thumb

The commuter’s rule of thumb. A general rule of thumb for commuting says forty-five minutes is the about the longest duration most people will accept for a one-way job commute.
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Sunday, November 15, 2009

The espresso rule of thumb

The espresso rule of thumb. Espresso is brewed by forcing very hot water under high pressure through extremely fine ground coffee. A coffee rule of thumb says you make the best shot of espresso with seven grams of coffee in twenty to twenty-five seconds.
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Saturday, November 14, 2009

The healthy eating rule of thumb

The healthy eating rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for healthy eating says a well balanced diet consists of 50% to 60% calories from carbohydrate, 15% to 20% protein and 25% to 30% fat.
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Friday, November 13, 2009

The dating rule of thumb

The dating rule of thumb. There are dating rules that men should obey. The essential dating rule of thumb for guys says those in a serious relationship should call her at least once a day.
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Thursday, November 12, 2009

The tax versus subsidy rule of thumb

The tax versus subsidy rule of thumb. A government tax collects money from citizens, while a government subsidy provides money. An economics rule of thumb says whatever we tax we tend to get less of, whatever we subsidize we tend to get more of.
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The armed forces rule of thumb

The armed forces rule of thumb. There are roughly three million people currently serving in the U.S. armed forces. A military rule of thumb says it takes ten military support personal to put one combat soldier into action.
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The PC depreciation rule of thumb

The PC depreciation rule of thumb. The average desktop personal computer has a functional lifespan of roughly two to five years. A common PC rule of thumb says the value of a fully assembled PC decreases by 1% a week.
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Monday, November 9, 2009

The GDP rule of thumb

The GDP rule of thumb. The gross domestic product (GDP) is the sum of all products and services sold. Employment levels change with the GDP. In the United States, an economic rule of thumb says for every percentage point change in GDP, there is a corresponding 0.4 point change in the unemployment rate.
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Sunday, November 8, 2009

Sargent Shriver

c. There is an old saying, "It’s not what you say but how you say it." To this end, a good communication rule of thumb says think twice, talk once.
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Saturday, November 7, 2009

The 90/10 project completion rule of thumb

The 90/10 project completion rule of thumb. The last leg of a project is usually the most arduous. A project management rule of thumb says 90% of a project is completed with 10% of the effort, while the remaining 10% requires 90% of the effort.
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Friday, November 6, 2009

The business process rule of thumb

The business process rule of thumb. A business process is a coordinated set of tasks that produce a business result. A general business rule of thumb says it is usually cheaper, easier and more reliable to change a process than to change a person.
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Thursday, November 5, 2009

The president’s rule of thumb

The president’s rule of thumb. Twelve U.S. Presidents have served at least two full terms in office. A political rule of thumb says the power of a second-term president peaks the day after winning the second term election.
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The political party rule of thumb

The political party rule of thumb. The majority of U.S. voters register with a political party. A general rule of thumb for political elections says 80% of voters will vote for the party with which they are registered, regardless of the candidates.
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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The property tax rule of thumb

The property tax rule of thumb. A real estate rule of thumb calculates a homeowner's annual property taxes at about 1% to 3% of the market value of their home. For example, the property taxes for a $200,000 home will be about $2,000 to $6,000 annually.
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Monday, November 2, 2009

Rule of thumb origin

Rule of thumb origin. One variation has it that the phrase "rule of thumb" first appeared during the 1700s in England. A reported common law during this time called the “rule of thumb” dictated that a man could discipline his wife with a stick that was no thicker than his thumb.
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Sunday, November 1, 2009

The 80/20 work rule of thumb

The 80/20 work rule of thumb. Dr. Joseph Juran originated the use of the 80/20 rule in quality management research during the 1930s in what he called "vital few and trivial many." The 80/20 rule of thumb says roughly 20% of your efforts produce 80% of the results.
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Saturday, October 31, 2009

The life insurance rule of thumb

The life insurance rule of thumb. Life insurance is a contract in which an insurance company agrees to pay money to a designated beneficiary upon your death. A life insurance rule of thumb says purchase a policy valued at five times your current earnings, plus two times earnings for every dependent.
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Friday, October 30, 2009

The lightning distance rule of thumb

The lightning distance rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for calculating the distance you are from a lightning strike is one mile for every five seconds between the flash of lightning and the next rumble of thunder.
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Thursday, October 29, 2009

The 80-20 medical costs rule of thumb

The 80-20 medical costs rule of thumb. Increasing numbers of companies are turning to health and wellness programs to improve the health of their employees. The 80-20 medical costs rule of thumb says 20% of a company's employees account for 80% of its medical costs.
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The 100-100 rule of thumb

The 100-100 rule of thumb. Weight loss is a result of healthy eating plus consistent exercise. A good weight loss rule of thumb says eating 100 fewer calories a day while burning 100 more calories a day will produce consistent weight loss over a period of time.
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The firewood rule of thumb

The firewood rule of thumb. As a rule of thumb, a cord of dry hardwood fuel yields about the same usable heat as 200 gallons of heating oil, a ton of hard coal, or about 4000 kilowatts of electricity.
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Monday, October 26, 2009

The workout rule of thumb

The workout rule of thumb. There are many methods to gauge your workout, for example, time, reps, distance, calories burned, etc. A fundamental rule of thumb for measuring a workout says, "No pain, no gain."
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Sunday, October 25, 2009

The 3 to 1 rule of thumb

The 3 to 1 rule of thumb. A military rule of thumb says a force of one-third the size of the enemy's is required to successfully defend. A force of three times the size of the enemy's is required to successfully attack.
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Saturday, October 24, 2009

The widescreen distance rule of thumb

The widescreen distance rule of thumb. A TV rule of thumb says the perfect place for the best widescreen television viewing experience is the distance of 2.5 times the diagonal size of the screen.
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Friday, October 23, 2009

The Churchill rule of thumb

The Churchill rule of thumb. Sir Winston Churchill was Britain’s wartime prime minister during World War II. Among other famous quotes, a Churchill rule of thumb says, “if you're going through hell, keep going."
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Thursday, October 22, 2009

The "3 times" rule of thumb

The "3 times" rule of thumb. The "3 times" rule of thumb says a person needs to ask you three times to do something before you do it. Otherwise, it is a request they are not serious about.
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The weight gain rule of thumb

The weight gain rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for weight gain says if you consume 100 more calories a day than you burn, you will gain 1 pound in a month or about 10 pounds in a year. Losing weight requires less calories and more physical activity.
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The "impossible" rule of thumb

The "impossible" rule of thumb. By definition, the concept of "possibility" comprises that which one can achieve. The concept of "impossibility" as stated in an old rule of thumb says, "Nothing is impossible to the person who does not have to do it."
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Monday, October 19, 2009

The safe humor rule of thumb

The safe humor rule of thumb. Humor is a great icebreaker, assuming the other party shares your humor. An old humor rule of thumb says if you are in a group setting, play it safe by using self-effacing humor.
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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Proverbs

A proverb. Proverbs are like rules of thumb. They are a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people. For example, "all is fair in love and war" and "the longest way around is the shortest way home."
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Saturday, October 17, 2009

The day counter’s rule of thumb

The day counter’s rule of thumb. Counting days is a common habit, for example, the number of days until Christmas, the number of days remaining in a political term, and so on. An old business rule of thumb says don't count the days, make the days count.
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Friday, October 16, 2009

The inflation rule of thumb

The inflation rule of thumb. Inflation is the general rise in prices when spending increases relative to the supply of goods on the market. A financial rule of thumb says that times of high inflation are generally good for borrowers and bad for investors.
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Thursday, October 15, 2009

The "above the neck" rule of thumb

The "above the neck" rule of thumb. Is it ok to exercise when sick? The "above the neck" rule of thumb says low-intensity workouts are ok if your symptoms appear above the neck (sneezing, sore throat) versus below the neck (stomach, fever).
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The healing rule of thumb

The healing rule of thumb. A rule of thumb says it takes two years to assimilate the death of a parent, one year to go through all the anniversaries and birthdays, and one year to begin the personal healing process.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The company stock rule of thumb

The company stock rule of thumb. "Do not put all your eggs in one basket," so goes the old adage. As for investing in your employer, a financial planning rule of thumb says you should invest no more than 10% of your savings.
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Monday, October 12, 2009

The dress decision rule of thumb

The dress decision rule of thumb. There may be an occasion where you are not sure if it calls for formal or informal attire. In this case, the fashion etiquette rule of thumb says it is always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.
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Sunday, October 11, 2009

The smoke detector rule of thumb

The smoke detector rule of thumb. Many home smoke detectors rely on batteries. To ensure they work when needed, a good rule of thumb says to check the batteries when you turn your clocks ahead in the spring, and change the batteries when you turn your clocks back in the fall.
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Saturday, October 10, 2009

The football two-point conversion rule of thumb

The football two-point conversion rule of thumb. When do you go for two instead of kicking the extra point? The rule of thumb says go for two after a touchdown when you are ahead by 1, 4, or 5 points, or when you are behind by 2 or 5 points. Otherwise, kick the extra point.
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Friday, October 9, 2009

The negotiation rule of thumb

The negotiation rule of thumb. Everything is negotiable. A rule of thumb for negotiating says know what you are willing to do and not do, and know how much value you place on the issues you will be negotiating.
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Thursday, October 8, 2009

The good advice rule of thumb

The good advice rule of thumb. "Some things are better left unsaid," so goes the old adage. A classic rule of thumb says if you don't have anything good to say then keep your thoughts to yourself.
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Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The job creation rule of thumb

The job creation rule of thumb. An economic rule of thumb says the economy needs to create at least 100,000 to 150,000 new jobs every month to keep the unemployment rate from rising.
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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The baseball pitching rule of thumb

The baseball pitching rule of thumb. When two baseball teams face off in a big series, such as the World Series, a baseball rule of thumb says good pitching always beats good hitting. The team with the better pitchers will win.
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Monday, October 5, 2009

The resume GPA rule of thumb

The resume GPA rule of thumb. Your resume is the first impression to a prospective employer. A career resume rule of thumb says omit your GPA from your resume unless it is 3.0 or higher.
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Sunday, October 4, 2009

The rule of thumb origin

The rule of thumb origin. There are several ideas for where the phrase "rule of thumb" originated. One suggests the phrase "rule of thumb" came from the use of the thumb as a convenient measuring tool, the distance to the first knuckle usually being about one inch.
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Saturday, October 3, 2009

The home renovation rule of thumb

The home renovation rule of thumb. How do you decide to purchase another home versus staying and renovating? A rule of thumb for home renovation says if the renovation costs 10% or less than the price you could sell your home for, it pays to stay and renovate.
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Friday, October 2, 2009

Murphy’s classic rule of thumb

Murphy’s classic rule of thumb. "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong," is Murphy’s Law. One way to translate this quote suggests being proactive and prepared for when things go awry. Another translation succumbs to the notion that everything will go wrong.
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Thursday, October 1, 2009

The jogging rule of thumb

The jogging rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for jogging says you burn off roughly ten calories per minute. Jogging thirty minutes, six times a week will burn about 1,800 calories. This equates to losing 1 pound of body fat every two weeks.
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The 4 to 1 rule

The 4 to 1 rule. The 4 to 1 rule for managers helps maintain good employee relations. This rule of thumb says make four positive reinforcements to an employee for every instance of corrective feedback.
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The indoor air rule of thumb

The indoor air rule of thumb. Indoor plants are a natural air cleaner and conditioner. To help prevent indoor air pollution, a rule of thumb says place and maintain one plant for every ten square yards of floor space.
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Monday, September 28, 2009

The traffic rule of thumb

The traffic rule of thumb. The typical American spends approximately 34 hours a year in traffic. A rule of thumb within the transportation industry says every minute of blocked traffic due to an incident or accident generates four additional minutes of traffic congestion.
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Sunday, September 27, 2009

The purchase versus lease rule of thumb

The purchase versus lease rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for buying versus leasing a car says buying a new car always makes better economic sense. There are two exceptions to this rule: if you trade in your car every two to three years, or if you use your auto for your business.
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Saturday, September 26, 2009

The "Gettysburg" rule of thumb

The "Gettysburg" rule of thumb. Drafting a lengthy email is a signal that a phone call or face-to-face conversation might be the better way to go. The "Gettysburg" rule of thumb for email says the body of an email should have fewer words than the Gettysburg Address.
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Friday, September 25, 2009

The 1 in 5 rule of thumb

The 1 in 5 rule of thumb. Americans move because of marriage, education, divorce, jobs, retirement and other reasons. A real estate rule of thumb says the average American changes their residence, on average, once every five years.
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Thursday, September 24, 2009

The PC replacement rule of thumb

The PC replacement rule of thumb. A general rule of thumb for personal computers says to replace them after thirty-six months and keep the same operating system installed for its entire life.
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The competence rule of thumb

The competence rule of thumb. A good communication rule of thumb says unexpressed competence appears much the same as incompetence.
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Monday, September 21, 2009

The pet ownership rule of thumb

The pet ownership rule of thumb. According to national surveys, about 63% of all American households have at least one pet. A rule of thumb for pet ownership says pets are like vacations, they cost twice as much as planned.
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Sunday, September 20, 2009

The credit card balance rule of thumb

The credit card balance rule of thumb. Credit cards provide short term financing with relatively low interest rates. A personal finance rule of thumb says your total credit card balance should be less than 5% of your gross annual income.
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Saturday, September 19, 2009

The community ownership rule of thumb

The community ownership rule of thumb. Public and common land is land owned by the people of a government jurisdiction such as a country, state or city. A property ownership rule of thumb says, when everybody owns it, nobody takes care of it.
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Friday, September 18, 2009

Aphorisms

Aphorisms. Aphorisms are sayings that offer rule-of-thumb advice on how to manage one's life. For example, "lost time is never found again" and "that which does not kill us makes us stronger."
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Thursday, September 17, 2009

The last minute rule of thumb

The last minute rule of thumb. "If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done," suggests the time management rule of thumb for procrastinators.
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The 1-99 Internet rule of thumb

The 1-99 Internet rule of thumb. There are 20 billion web pages produced by 70 million web sites on the Internet. The 1-99 rule of thumb says 1% of the Internet population creates most of its content while the remaining 99% consumes it.
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The "five finger" rule of thumb

The "five finger" rule of thumb. Use the "five finger" rule of thumb to find the appropriate book for a child. Read a page from the book aloud, holding up one finger for each word the child does not know. Five fingers up suggest the book is too difficult.
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Monday, September 14, 2009

Dogs of the Dow

The "Dogs of the Dow" rule of thumb. There are a multitude of strategies for buying and selling stocks and building a great portfolio. The "Dogs of the Dow" investment rule of thumb says invest in the ten highest dividend-yielding stocks of the thirty in the Dow Jones Industrial index.
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Sunday, September 13, 2009

The collision coverage rule of thumb

The collision coverage rule of thumb. Collision insurance coverage pays for damage caused to your vehicle in an automobile accident. A good insurance rule of thumb says once your auto’s value drops below $3000, stop the collision coverage on the policy and save the extra premium amount.
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Saturday, September 12, 2009

The slim clothing rule of thumb

The slim clothing rule of thumb. There are several methods to help you look slimmer without dieting and exercising. One fashion rule of thumb says wearing black or dark color clothing will minimize fullness.
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Friday, September 11, 2009

The walker’s rule of thumb

The walker’s rule of thumb. A pedometer is a pager-sized device worn on your belt that records walking distance based on your body's movement. For gauging walk distance, a general rule of thumb says a typical person walks about two miles per hour.
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Thursday, September 10, 2009

The landscape rule of thumb

The landscape rule of thumb. A real estate rule of thumb says the average cost to landscape a new home is about 10% to 15% of the home's value. Studies show that high quality landscaping can add from 7% and 15% to a home's value at sale time.
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The home purchase of thumb

The home purchase of thumb. How long do you plan to live in the home you purchased? A simple rule of thumb says buy a home if you will be in the home long enough for price appreciation to cover all transaction costs. Otherwise, rent the home.
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Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The dog age rule of thumb

The dog age rule of thumb. There are different methods for calculating a dog’s age in human years. A canine rule of thumb says one dog year is equal to seven human years. Thus, a 3-year old dog is about 21 human years.
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Monday, September 7, 2009

The wine taster’s rule of thumb

The wine taster’s rule of thumb. The wine tasters rule of thumb says for best results put a red wine in the fridge for ten minutes, and take a white wine out for ten minutes, before opening.
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Sunday, September 6, 2009

The college football rule of thumb

The college football rule of thumb. During the era of the flying wedge and wishbone offense, a common college football rule of thumb said a college football team would lose one game for each freshman it started.
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Friday, September 4, 2009

The manager’s rule of thumb

The manager’s rule of thumb. Casey Stengel was known for his comic inspiration during his 25 years as a major league manager. Among his other quotes, Stengel’s rule of thumb for how to be an effective manager says, “Keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided about you.
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Thursday, September 3, 2009

The 1,000 to 1 farming rule of thumb

The 1,000 to 1 farming rule of thumb. All crops require water to grow, some more than others. An agriculture rule of thumb says it takes one thousand tons of water to produce one ton of grain. Ten inches of rain over one acre equals about 1,000 tons of water.
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The college rule of thumb

The college rule of thumb. The college inflation rate refers to the annual increase in college tuition and fees, similar to the way that the general inflation rate refers to the annual increase in the cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the college inflation rate increases at about twice the general inflation rate.
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The stock rule of thumb

The stock rule of thumb. Stocks are generally more risky than bonds. A financial planning rule of thumb says your current percentage of stocks versus bonds should be one hundred minus your age. For example, at age 30 your portfolio should be 70% stocks versus 30% bonds.
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Monday, August 31, 2009

The lawn fertilizer rule of thumb

The lawn fertilizer rule of thumb. Lawn experts recommend applying fertilizer to your lawn in the spring and fall and throughout the summer. The healthy lawn rule of thumb says if you fertilize your lawn only one time each year, Labor Day is the best time.
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Sunday, August 30, 2009

The tuition rule of thumb

The tuition rule of thumb. A general rule of thumb for estimating tuition costs says if the overall inflation rate is 3%, the cost of college will double every ten to twelve years.
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Saturday, August 29, 2009

The curtain length rule of thumb

The curtain length rule of thumb. Curtains are window fashion that provide privacy, keep light out, and reduce drafts. A decorating rule of thumb for curtain length says the curtain should stop either just at the top of the windowsill or just at the bottom of the window frame.
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Friday, August 28, 2009

The tipping rule of thumb

The tipping rule of thumb. The general rule of thumb for tipping in a restaurant suggests the following: if the service was good and prompt, tip 15%. If the service was very good, leave 18% to 20%.
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Thursday, August 27, 2009

The affordability rule of thumb

The affordability rule of thumb. With freely available credit and debit terms, judging the affordability of a purchase is not as hard and fast as it once was. An affordability rule of thumb says if you have to ask how much it costs, you probably cannot afford it.
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The book reader’s rule of thumb

The book reader’s rule of thumb. Books and movies are entertainment vehicles that tell a story in a very different way. A book reader’s rule of thumb for movies based on books says the more you enjoyed the novel, the less you will enjoy the movie.
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The turnover rule of thumb

The turnover rule of thumb. Almost all companies experience some form of employee turnover. A human resources rule of thumb says an annual employee turnover greater than 10% is detrimental to a business.
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Monday, August 24, 2009

The technology spending rule of thumb

The technology spending rule of thumb. Most businesses invest in technology to increase productivity and efficiency. A rule of thumb for technology spending says a business will spend about 5% to 10% of their annual revenue in technology.
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Sunday, August 23, 2009

The demand rule of thumb

The demand rule of thumb. Andre Paul Gide was a French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in 1947. A rule of thumb coined by Gide's says, "He who makes great demands on himself is naturally inclined to make great demands on others."
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Saturday, August 22, 2009

The delivery rule of thumb

The delivery rule of thumb. An old adage says, "No news is good news." A good rule of thumb for delivering news says the worse the news, the more effort should go into communicating it.
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Friday, August 21, 2009

The one-pound rule of thumb

The one-pound rule of thumb. You lose weight by burning calories. A nutrition rule of thumb says to lose one pound of fat you have to burn 3,500 more calories than you consume over a period of time.
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Thursday, August 20, 2009

The basketball rule of thumb

The basketball rule of thumb. An arced basketball has the best chance of scoring because it drops through the largest possible rim opening. A good rule of thumb for shooting says arc your shot 3 to 4 feet higher than the basket on a 15-foot shot. For closer in shots, use a 1 to 2 foot arc.
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The 70/70 cigar rule of thumb

The 70/70 cigar rule of thumb. Storing a nice cigar in a plastic bag will not do. For maximum life, cigars must be stored in a humidor. A good rule of thumb is the 70/70 rule: 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 70% humidity.
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Yogi Berra’s decision-making rule of thumb

Yogi Berra’s decision-making rule of thumb. Yogi Berra is perhaps the most quoted baseball personality of all time. Among other rules coined by Yogi, his rule of thumb for decision-making said, "When you get to a fork in the road, take it."
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Monday, August 17, 2009

The opportunity rule of thumb

The opportunity rule of thumb. American inventor Thomas Edison holds over 1,000 patents and is world famous for many inventions. A good rule of thumb coined by Edison says, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
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Sunday, August 16, 2009

The startup cost rule of thumb

The startup cost rule of thumb. Undercapitalization is one of the chief reasons why businesses fail. A business rule of thumb says it takes twice as long and twice the money to get a business off the ground as originally estimated.
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Saturday, August 15, 2009

The memory rule of thumb

The memory rule of thumb. Memory is the ability to remember experiences or learned information. A memory rule of thumb says the span of immediate human memory is around seven plus or minus two items.
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Friday, August 14, 2009

The decision maker’s rule of thumb

The decision maker’s rule of thumb. Sound decision-making is a key attribute of a successful leader. At times, there are critical moments when making a decision can be difficult, perplexing, and nerve-racking. A classic business rule of thumb says any decision is better than no decision.
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Thursday, August 13, 2009

The TV commercial rule of thumb

The TV commercial rule of thumb. Television commercials are one of the most effective methods of advertising to mass audiences. A sales and marketing rule of thumb says people will not remember a commercial until they see it at least three times.
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The retro fashion rule of thumb

The retro fashion rule of thumb. Some clothing styles and trends make a comeback after years or even decades of dormancy. A fashion rule of thumb says if you lived the first incarnation of any clothing trend, you are too old to wear it the next time it comes around.
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The productivity rule of thumb

The productivity rule of thumb. The average U.S. worker logs about 43 hours of work during a normal week. A business rule of thumb says a typical employee is productive for 6.5 hours out of a regular eight-hour day.
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Monday, August 10, 2009

The "good buy" rule of thumb

The "good buy" rule of thumb. A good real estate rule of thumb says a real estate investment is considered a "good buy" if it can be purchased at one hundred times the property's monthly rental value.
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Sunday, August 9, 2009

"Use it or lose it" rule of thumb

The "use it or lose it" rule of thumb. A good house cleaning rule of thumb says use it or lose it. If you have not used something within the last year, sell it, donate it, or pitch it out.
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Saturday, August 8, 2009

The boater’s 1/3 rule of thumb

The boater’s 1/3 rule of thumb. This rule of thumb says to use one-third of your boat's fuel to get to your destination, one-third to get back to port, and the last one-third as an emergency backup.
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Friday, August 7, 2009

The draft rule of thumb

The draft rule of thumb. Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in a home. A home maintenance rule of thumb says where you find spider webs you are likely to find a draft.
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Thursday, August 6, 2009

The horse racing rule of thumb

The horse racing rule of thumb. A long shot is a bet in which the chances of winning are slight but the possible winnings great. A horse racing rule of thumb says if there are too many favorites in a horse race, bet on the long shot.
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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The 1/10,000 job search rule of thumb

The 1/10,000 job search rule of thumb. The more job experience you have, the longer the duration to find a new job. A career rule of thumb says a new job search takes about one month for every $10,000 of salary.
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

The personal savings rule of thumb

The personal savings rule of thumb. The U.S. recorded a negative savings rate in 2005, the first time since the Great Depression. A personal finance rule of thumb says you should save at least 10% of your pretax income every year.
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Monday, August 3, 2009

The auto depreciation rule of thumb

The auto depreciation rule of thumb. Depreciation is the single biggest cost in the first five years of a car's life, far outpacing fuel and maintenance costs. A general rule of thumb says an auto loses 15% to 20% of its value each year.
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Sunday, August 2, 2009

The 1/3 college savings rule of thumb

The 1/3 college savings rule of thumb. A good financial planning rule of thumb for saving for college says save 1/3 of the expected college costs, pay 1/3 from current income and financial aid during college years, and borrow 1/3 using student loans.
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Saturday, August 1, 2009

The life insurance rule of thumb

The life insurance rule of thumb. There are several ways you can determine the appropriate level of life insurance. A good rule of thumb says if you have young kids or teenagers, you will need a life insurance policy that covers from six to ten times your total family income.
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Friday, July 31, 2009

The jet lag rule of thumb

The jet lag rule of thumb. Flying across multiple time zones disrupts your natural body rhythms, leading to sleep problems and other symptoms. A travel rule of thumb says it takes one day for the body clock to adjust for each traveled time zone.
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Thursday, July 30, 2009

The generic gift rule of thumb

The generic gift rule of thumb. A gift giving etiquette rule of thumb says a thoughtful gift should not be a generic gift. If you can give the same gift to your parent, sibling, and co-worker, it is a generic gift.
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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The hammer rule of thumb

The hammer rule of thumb. "If your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." This old rule of thumb reaffirms the notion of proceeding with caution, especially if you are paying the person who is holding the hammer.
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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The sunlight exposure rule of thumb

The sunlight exposure rule of thumb. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. It rises higher in the summer than the winter. The sunlight exposure rule of thumb says if your shadow is taller, exposure is lower; if your shadow is shorter, exposure is higher.
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Monday, July 27, 2009

The home cleanliness rule of thumb

The home cleanliness rule of thumb. Some say you can maintain a sparkling house in just 19 minutes a day. A home cleanliness rule of thumb says if you can see the dirt, you have waited too long to clean.
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Sunday, July 26, 2009

The one-hour study rule of thumb

The one-hour study rule of thumb. There are many good methods for studying and learning. A good education rule of thumb says the first hour of studying is the best hour; do not study any one subject for more than an hour at a time.
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Saturday, July 25, 2009

The gardener’s rule of thumb

The gardener’s rule of thumb. A gardening rule of thumb says to plant tulip bulbs five inches deep, about six to eight weeks before the ground freezes.
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Friday, July 24, 2009

The idea rule of thumb

The idea rule of thumb. A business rule of thumb says if you have a good idea, five other companies are doing the same thing. If you have a great idea, fifteen companies are doing the same thing.
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Thursday, July 23, 2009

The go alone rule of thumb

The go alone rule of thumb. American author, philosopher and thinker Henry David wrote during the mid 1800s. Among other quotes, a Thoreau rule of thumb says, "The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait until the other is ready."
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The safe insult rule of thumb

The safe insult rule of thumb. An old rule of thumb for life says, "Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river."
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The 9-4-4 calorie rule of thumb

The 9-4-4 calorie rule of thumb. Foods are not equal with respect to calories. A nutrition rule of thumb says a gram of fat has 9 calories, a gram of protein 4 calories, and a gram of carbohydrate 4 calories.
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Monday, July 20, 2009

The hiker’s rule of thumb

The hiker’s rule of thumb. Scottish mountaineer William W. Naismith's rule of thumb for calculating the duration of a hike a route is as follows: for hikers of reasonable fitness, on typical terrain, under normal conditions, allow 1 hour for every 3 miles (5 km), plus ½ hour for every 1,000 feet (300 meters) of ascent.
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Sunday, July 19, 2009

The fine print rule of thumb

The fine print rule of thumb. Emmy award winning writer Andy Rooney is best known for his signature essays at the end of the 60 Minutes TV program. A good rule of thumb penned by Rooney says, "nothing in fine print is ever good news".
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Saturday, July 18, 2009

The poison ivy rule of thumb

The poison ivy rule of thumb. Poison ivy commonly causes an allergic skin reaction along with itching, red rash or blisters. The rule of thumb for poison ivy says, "leaves of three, let it be".
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Friday, July 17, 2009

The rule of thumb for change

The rule of thumb for change. Change can be good and change can be bad. An old rule of thumb in life says, "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it."
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Thursday, July 16, 2009

The measurement rule of thumb

The measurement rule of thumb. An old business rule of thumb says, "What gets measured gets done." The use of consistent, comparable metrics is vital to operating and growing a successful venture.
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The "tooth fairy" rule of thumb

The "tooth fairy" rule of thumb. The "tooth fairy" rule of thumb for science fiction writers says a mysterious outside force may be invoked to explain the unexplainable only once in a sci-fi story.
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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The one-hour meeting rule of thumb

The one-hour meeting rule of thumb. About 25 million meetings take place in corporate America on a daily basis. Estimates say half the time spent in these meetings is wasted. A management rule of thumb says limit meetings to one hour to avoid too many topics and run-on meetings.
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Monday, July 13, 2009

The 90-day credit rule of thumb

The 90-day credit rule of thumb. If used wisely, credit cards are one of the cheapest sources of short-term credit. To this end, a good credit card rule of thumb says avoid credit card purchases that cannot be paid off within 90 days.
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Sunday, July 12, 2009

The quality clothing rule of thumb

The quality clothing rule of thumb. Clothing is like most other products in that you usually get what you pay for. A fashion rule of thumb says buy the best clothing you can afford. Well-made clothes fit and look better.
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Saturday, July 11, 2009

The emergency savings rule of thumb

The emergency savings rule of thumb. Emergency expenditures should come from an emergency fund. A financial planning rule of thumb says your emergency savings should equal about three to six months' worth of your living expenses.
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Friday, July 10, 2009

The 40-12 home sale rule of thumb

The 40-12 home sale rule of thumb. How long it takes to sell a home depends on several factors, such as the home’s price, its condition, its neighborhood, and prevailing interest rates. The 40-12 rule of thumb says for a typical home forty showings in twelve weeks should result in a sale.
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Thursday, July 9, 2009

The software bug rule of thumb

The software bug rule of thumb. A rule of thumb for software bugs says a software bug costs $1 when caught in the requirements stage; $10 in the design stage; $100 in the development stage; $1,000 during the testing stage; and $10,000 after release.
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The politician’s rule of thumb

The politician’s rule of thumb. Political rhetoric is the fuel that drives most politicians. A good rule of thumb regarding politicians says ignore what they say and watch what they do.
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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The good project rule of thumb

The good project rule of thumb. A successful project completes on time and under budget. An old project management rule of thumb says it takes ten good projects to recover from one bad project.
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Monday, July 6, 2009

The law expense rule of thumb

The law expense rule of thumb. English novelist and satirical author Samuel Butler is often quoted in books and on the web. A famous Butler rule of thumb says "In law, nothing is certain except the expense."
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Saturday, July 4, 2009

The life insurance rule of thumb

The life insurance rule of thumb. A good financial planning rule of thumb says purchase whole life insurance for permanent needs (funeral, burial, estate liquidity) and term life insurance for temporary needs (mortgages, college costs).
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Friday, July 3, 2009

The colorful food rule of thumb.

The colorful food rule of thumb. A plate filled with an assortment of colorful fruits and vegetables makes for good presentation and helps keep your heart and mind healthy. A rule of thumb says the more vibrant the food color, the healthier it is.
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Thursday, July 2, 2009

The clothing rule of thumb

The clothing rule of thumb. You should select clothing colors for season and for accent. A good rule of thumb says choose dress colors that de-emphasize the undertone in your skin, contrast your hair color or compliment your eyes.
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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The retirement rule of thumb

The retirement rule of thumb. There are several methods for estimating how much you need to save for retirement. A financial planning rule of thumb says your retirement savings should be twenty times your annual expenses not covered by pension or Social Security payments.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The tire life rule of thumb

The tire life rule of thumb. Good tire maintenance will ensure safety as well as maximize the life of the tire. An auto rule of thumb says a tire's life will decrease by 10% for every ten percent it is under-inflated.
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Monday, June 29, 2009

The business retail cost rule of thumb

The business retail cost rule of thumb. There are several methods of determining the retail price of a product. A good rule of thumb says most products should sell for four to five times their manufacturing cost.
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Sunday, June 28, 2009

The college loan rule of thumb

The college loan rule of thumb. Most graduating college seniors will graduate with some education debt. The rule of thumb for recent college graduates says you should expect to pay about 10% to 12% of your monthly income toward baying back college loans.
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Saturday, June 27, 2009

The building rule of thumb

The building rule of thumb. All tall buildings and skyscrapers sway to some degree in order to keep them more stable during extreme weather conditions. As a rule of thumb, architects use a building's height in feet divided by 600 to determine the maximum sway of a building's tower.
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Friday, June 26, 2009

The 1/3 grass cutting rule of thumb

The 1/3 grass cutting rule of thumb. How often you mow your lawn depends on how fast its grass grows. The 1/3 grass cutting rule of thumb says never cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade off at a time. For example, for a lawn 3 inches high cut off no more than an inch.
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Thursday, June 25, 2009

The earthquake energy rule of thumb

The earthquake energy rule of thumb. The biggest recorded earthquake occurred on May 22, 1960 in Chile and measured 9.5 on the Richter scale. A seismology rule of thumb says for each one-point magnitude increase of an earthquake, about thirty-two times more energy is released.
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The competitive analysis rule of thumb

The competitive analysis rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for competitive analysis says complete an analysis of two to three direct competitors, one indirect competitor, and one future competitor.
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The persuasion rule of thumb

The persuasion rule of thumb. Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician and philosopher who lived in the 17th century. Among his other quotes, a Pascal rule of thumb says "people are generally better persuaded by the reason that they discovered rather than by those that have come to the minds of others."
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Monday, June 22, 2009

The safe diving rule of thumb

The safe diving rule of thumb. "Feet first, first time" is the safe swim diving rule of thumb. This means before diving into water, go in feet first to find out how deep the water is.
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Sunday, June 21, 2009

The calorie rule of thumb

The calorie rule of thumb. It is important to know how many calories you need per day to gain or lose weight. A good nutrition rule of thumb calculates your recommended daily calorie requirements by multiplying your ideal weight in pounds by fifteen. For example, 1,800 calories per day is recommended at 130 pounds.
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Saturday, June 20, 2009

The home remodeling rule of thumb

The home remodeling rule of thumb. The following are some real estate rules of thumb for home remodeling: upgrade your kitchen first; focus on floors; select neutral colors; paint; hide the flaws; and keep all livability options open.
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Friday, June 19, 2009

The gardener’s rule of thumb

The gardener’s rule of thumb. Outdoor plants get their water from rain and from irrigation, namely garden hoses and sprinklers. To this end, a simple gardening rule of thumb says situate plants with the most need for water closer to your home and those with less need further away.
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Thursday, June 18, 2009

The photo thirds rule of thumb

The photo thirds rule of thumb. The rule of thirds is for taking better photos. This rule says divide the picture frame into nine equal parts, like an imaginary tick-tack-toe grid. Compose your images so that prominent elements align with the grid, with the most important ones falling on or near grid intersections.
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The learning rule of thumb

The learning rule of thumb. An expert is a person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject. An old rule of thumb on becoming an expert says the more you learn, the more you learn what you don't know.
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The lunch check rule of thumb

The lunch check rule of thumb. A business lunch is an informal opportunity to meet your clients or associates while having a meal. A business etiquette rule of thumb says the person requesting a lunch meeting should also pay for the lunch.
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Monday, June 15, 2009

The "Four Cs" rule of thumb

The "Four Cs" rule of thumb. The "Four Cs" rule of thumb for making a real estate loan states the following: Credit is the borrower’s likelihood to make regular on-time payments. Capacity is the borrower’s ability to pay based on their income and long-term debt. Collateral is the real estate that secures the loan. Capital is the down payment.
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Sunday, June 14, 2009

The teacher’s rule of thumb

The teacher’s rule of thumb. Most schoolteachers obtain at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and pass either a state or local certification test. A less formal teaching rule of thumb says a genuine teacher is one who remains a student at heart.
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Saturday, June 13, 2009

The "factor of five" rule of thumb

The "factor of five" rule of thumb. There are several methods for determining the retail cost of a product. The "factor of five" rule of thumb says one-dollar of product cost should equal about five dollars of retail price.
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Friday, June 12, 2009

Rule of Thumb Daily Quote

The repeat sales rule of thumb. The cost of selling to new customers is usually much higher than selling to an existing customer. A good strategic business rule of thumb says acquire new customers at break even and make all your profit on repeat sales.
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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Business attrition rule of thumb

The business attrition rule of thumb. The majority of new business ventures do not make it past five years. A business rule of thumb says 40% of all new businesses die within the first year, and over 80% of start-ups fail within the first five years.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The home seller’s rule of thumb

The home seller’s rule of thumb. A home seller’s top priority is to make their home appealing to potential buyers. To this end, a good real estate rule of thumb says a home seller showing a home should take out half the contents in the closets and storage areas to make the home look more spacious.
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Tuesday, June 9, 2009

The car fuel rule of thumb

The car fuel rule of thumb. Heavier vehicles usually get less gas mileage than lighter vehicles. A fuel consumption rule of thumb says most cars will burn about their weight in gasoline every year.
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Monday, June 8, 2009

The bad news rule of thumb

The bad news rule of thumb. There is never a good time for bad news. A public relations rule of thumb says if there is bad news to deliver, always release the bad news late in the day on Friday.
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Sunday, June 7, 2009

Lease versus buy

The lease versus buy rule of thumb. Some things appreciate while others depreciate. For example, homes usually appreciate while autos usually depreciate. A general financial rule of thumb says you should buy what appreciates and lease what depreciates.
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Saturday, June 6, 2009

Mediocrity rule of thumb

The mediocrity rule of thumb. Galileo, Newton and Einstein observed that our planet follows the same physical laws as our Universe. With respect to this, the scientific principle of mediocrity is a rule of thumb that says, we, and our particular location in time and space, are nothing special.
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Friday, June 5, 2009

The customer rule of thumb

The customer rule of thumb. A business is not a business without customers. A good rule of thumb states what is perhaps the most fundamental business rule of them all: the customer is always right.
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Thursday, June 4, 2009

The life insurance rule of thumb

The life insurance rule of thumb. There are several methods to determine the value of a life insurance policy. A good life insurance rule of thumb says you should purchase a life insurance policy valued at five times your annual income.
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Rule of Thumb Daily Quote

The credit balance rule of thumb. Financial planners recommend using credit cards for financing short-term purchases and for emergencies. A personal finance rule of thumb says you should carry two to six credit cards and keep the balance under 25% of the credit limit.
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Rule of Thumb Daily Quote

The summer rule of thumb. The summer season is the time for bright-colored clothing. A fashion rule of thumb says you should never wear light-beige or white slacks or skirts between Labor Day and Memorial Day.
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