The search for meaning is an essential part of what makes us human. It answers a deep need within us to find some kind of purpose in life. We want to know we're doing something significant with the time we've been allotted.

I personally believe that there's a concrete link between meaning and happiness. It's well documented that people who have a vocation or calling in life are significantly happier than those who don't because their daily lives have real meaning.

Where it's Saving the Japanese Dolphins or setting up your own amateur animal welfare shelter, find a cause that fires you up. It needn't take up hours – start by organizing a recycling system at home, holding a fund-raising quiz night or writing a letter to the government. People who are committed to causes report being happier because they can recognize their contribution.

Nothing puts pressure on a relationship like money problems – it's one of the main reasons why people split-up or get divorced. So in these tough times of global financial problems, you have to take action to preserve your finances as well as your love.

It's important to resolve problems and make financial decisions together. You don't want one person deciding how to spend and invest for you both – it's a huge responsibility.

This never been as important as it is now. Strain is put on a relationship when there is not enough money to make ends meet. Be honest and put your heads together to work out the best way to confront your financial problems.

Get as much free information as you can. If you know someone who manages money well, ask them to be your financial mentor and pick their brain. If you want to keep your finances private, look for someone outside the family. You don't have to follow their advice – you and your partner can decide together if it works for you.

I just had a packing fiasco. I was about to leave for a week's vacation and spent the day tidying up loose ends, figuring I'd pack in the evening. A friend seduced me out to dinner, and we stayed up late. The ride to the airport arrived early the next morning while I was in a mad scramble, grabbing whatever I thought I might need. I packed too much, and worse, I was unhappy with what I brought.

Packing is my favorite thing I hate to do, and I'm considered an expert. My goal is to take the minimum amount of clothing to wear in the maximum number of ways. When I flew to Seoul for a two-week trip with just a carry-on suitcase, I was astonished and my co-workers even more...

Packing the right clothes is like having the perfect travel companion: You feel great with them, they're versatile, and they don't hold you back. The packing process also helps me take a fresh look at my wardrobe; I discover different ways of combining the pieces I have.

I start by making a chart on a piece of paper. Down the left side of the page I list the days I'll be away. Across the top, I mark three columns: AM, PM, Extra. This helps me visualize what events I need to dress for. Next, I put together one head-to-toe look I feel great in and build from there.

Before your little bundle of joy arrives, make sure you're well-prepared for the cost of expanding your family. Bringing your baby home should be a time of joy, without the financial stress of becoming new parents. As the old saying goes, if you wait until you can afford kids you'll never have them. But you must be ably to cover basic expenses.

Preparing for baby

During the waiting period, much excitement and attention is placed on choosing names, the perfect pram, a nursery color scheme, baby furniture and myriad of clothes and fluffy toys.

However too often the planning stops there and little thought is given to the family finances. This is a major problem. Managing your money is even more crucial when you have the responsibility of a child. If you have an expensive month and need to live on water and white rice for a few days until pay day, it won't kill you. But a baby can't wait a few days for formula, new nappies or other baby stuff.

Sure, you believe in the opportunity to hit snooze three times and the restorative power of a gossipy phone call, but what really matters to you? Naming the core beliefs that guide your actions can be transformative in discovering who you are.

Focus on Important Life Lessons

Focus on one important life lesson – and think about a specific challenge or experience that brought it to life for you. I can recommend writing down that memory, keeping your account short so you can concentrate on the details that led to your realization. Beliefs are different than advice, for example, “seize the day” is a mantra that becomes meaningful only when you can explain how this mentality motivated you to ask your now husband out of a first date.

It's amazing to think peanut butter sandwiches are now banned from most childcare facilities in the world due to the number of food allergies – one in 20 children and one in 100 adults have them.

Severe allergies cause life-threatening anaphylaxis – trouble breathing, dizziness or loss of blood pressure. If you're allergic, have an action strategy, carry medication and be vigilant. Here are some strategies for eating out.

Low-fat and vegetarian don't necessarily go hand in hand. Be a healthy and balanced vegetarian with these tips...

1. Include 'complete' proteins

If you're vegetarian or thinking about it, it's easy to miss out on important nutrients, especially protein. Protein is needed to build and repair your body's tissues. While plants and vegetables contain some protein, they don't contain all the amino acids your body needs. A perfect example of a complete protein is pure soy, and products with high-soy content such as tofu and tempeh. Both are vegetarian and will blend well into most meals. For something different, try flavoured or marinated tofu or tempeh, easily purchased from your local fresh market or local supermarket.

2. Look past vegetarian products

With changing eating habits, there are now more vegetarian products then ever before. While it's okay to have a few veggie burgers every now and then, they shouldn't substitute a diet rich in fresh vegetables. Try making a leafy salad or bowl of fresh-steamed veggies to to get maximum nutrients. If you're going to a BBQ and you know their main ingredients will be meat and bread, pack a salad full of leafy greens, other vegetables, nuts or tofu. This will save you feeling rude and sitting there with nothing to eat.

Food: Honey can go quite hard and sugary after awhile, but if you stand the jar in a bowl of hot water it should return to its normal consistency.

Furniture: If your cane and wicker furniture is becoming a little loose and wonky as it gets older, try scrubbing it well with some hot soapy water, then let it dry in the sun for a couple of days. This should tighten the cane and make it much more stable to sit on.

Picking up pollen: If pollen form a vase of flowers falls onto your carpet, lift it off with sticky tape, then use a stain remover.

Age gracefully: When it comes to aging, we think about our face and neck only. But we shouldn't forget our elbows and knees. So after applying your night cream, rub any leftovers into these areas.

Every minute counts, so boost your immune system in 24 hours with these tips. Coughs, sneezes, sore throats, it must be cold and flue season. Fend off germs by boosting your immune system to stay cold and flu-free this time.

1 minute to take a supplement

After reviewing 14 separate clinical trials, researchers found that echinacea may cut the chances of catching a cold by 58 per cent and they also discovered that taking the herbal supplement may help reduce the duration of the sniffles by almost two days. Echinacea has powerful cold prevention and cold treatment benefits. However, there are a lot of echinacea products on the market, containing different extracts and amounts, so opt for a reputable brand.

3 minutes to boost your antioxidant levels

Put the kettle on. Tea is rich source of antioxidant, and the group of compounds called flavonoids is why we reap a host of benefits. It doesn't matter if you prefer the taste of green, white or black teas, all have antioxidants that protect the body from free-radical damage and boost immunity. Steep your tea bag for two to three minutes, and remember that a longer brewing time will give you a greater concentration of antioxidants.

While it's normal to worry, worrying too much can make the problem seem worse than what it really is. Try these strategies to minimize your stress:

Limit 'worrying' time. If you are worried about a problem, set aside time for you to worry about it. If you can't think of solution, don't beat yourself up about it, save that for next time.

Rethink your thoughts. When you're worried, you're more likely to think of what 'could' happen. Remind yourself of previous times when you felt this way and how different the result was. Think of the best possible scenario rather than the worst one.

Be kind to yourself. Give yourself the same advice you would give to your best friend. Being over-critical will only make you feel worse and won't help your situation.