As a long distance consultant, I've often wondered why people are hesitant to switch to new, lower priced, long distance plans.

Then it hit me. It's same reason I get stuck in tooth paste aisle at grocery store. There are so many tubes of toothpaste to choose from. Each with different benefits, flavors, features. I'm not a toothpaste expert. How do I know which toothpaste is best?

So I pick up usual tube, just to avoid making a decision.

Are you doing same thing when it comes to long distance? If so, you're missing out on lower rates offered in today's market. Read this and get ready to shrink your long distance bill!

- Average Usage Plans -

Most of us make between fifteen minutes to two hours of long distance calls a week.

If you fit into this range, you'll get your best deal from a small long distance company. One that specializes in low per minute rates for residential and small business callers. Small companies have to compete against big three (AT&T, Sprint, MCI). They often do so by offering lower rates.

Most small long distance companies are very dependable. They generally provide better, more personal, customer service. Most offer plans with rates under 5¢/minute.

Remember when you were a kid and you had to go to hospital? Remember strange sights, sounds, unpleasant smells, and strangers entering your hospital room? You had no idea what was happening to you and no one could explain in a way you understood. You waited a lot with nothing to do except worry about what was going to happen next.

Artists Helping Children Foundation (http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing comfort to children in hospitals, clinics, and shelters by brightening their environment with murals and other art. By painting murals and creating other art for and with children, we create enriching and happy places to ease children's fear and pain, to take their minds and their hearts out of cold and into warm and wonderful places. It is amazing how a piece of paper and crayons can divert his attention away from pain. This is because children respond to and use artwork as tools for coping.

The people who work with Artists Helping Children provide art that brings joy and happiness to lives of ill, mistreated, and needy children in communities everywhere. Through generosity of artists, patients and community members, Artists Helping Children helps create murals, pieces of art, and provides arts and crafts supplies for kids we serve.

HERE ARE A FEW WAYS WE BRING JOY TO ILL AND NEEDY CHILDREN