Helpful Hints and Tips

A plant that has been a traditional holiday favorite for years is the Poinsettia. They are now available in various leaf and flower colors. Make sure you start out right by buying a healthy plant. Select a poinsettia that has dark green foliage. If you choose a plant that has lots of color it will not develop much additional color after it leaves the store. The yellow flowers in the center of the colored bracts should be small and bright. Make sure to look carefully for any signs of insects and avoid any plants that have spotting on the leaves. Once you bring the plant home they need strong sunlight to develop their deep color. Blooming plants will maintain their color if in strong, indirect light.

Keep the plant evenly moist, but there should not be standing water in the plant's saucer. This might require watering two to three times a week. Water the plant thoroughly and after 15 minutes empty any water that is standing in the saucer. Poinsettias prefer temperatures in the range of 60 to 70 degrees once their color has developed, but they do not like drafty areas. Once the flowers start blooming give them a liquid fertilizer once very two weeks.

One thing to know is that poinsettias are not poisonous. This is a folk tale that has been around for over 70 years. The plants are not meant to be eaten, but studies show they are not poisonous to humans or animals. Another mistaken belief is that the red leaves of the plant are the flowers. These are actually brightly colored leaves and the rather insignificant yellow buds in the center of the plant are the actual flowers.

Another plant that can add some color for the holiday is an Amaryllis. This plant is typically bought as a bulb. The bulb should be planted in a pot that is just slightly bigger than the bulb, just make sure that the pot has good drainage. Use a good potting soil, but only cover about 1/3 of the bulb. Once planted make sure you water thoroughly. Once the plant starts to actually grow place it in a sunny window. Water whenever the soil is dry to the touch. After the plant has bloomed, cut back the flower stalk, but not the leaves. You can then continue to grow the plant as you would any other house plant.

Paperwhite Narcissus is also a holiday plant that starts out as a bulb. Narcissus bulbs should be planted in a pot with good drainage. The bulbs should be placed close together with their pointed end up. Leave the top half of the bulbs uncovered. Once planted, water the bulbs thoroughly. Place the pot in a well lit, but cool room. Once the shoots are about an inch tall the plant can be moved to a warmer room.

For a different twist on a holiday plant try a Christmas cactus. These plants are easy to care for and can have flower colors that are shades of pink, yellow, salmon or white. The cactus can adapt to low levels of light, however, it will bloom more in higher light levels. Christmas cactus is not a true cactus and is not quite as drought tolerate as other cactus plants. The plant should be watered thoroughly when the top half of the soil is dry. Feed the plant every two to three weeks. Plants that are exposed to drafts, overwatering or are too close to a heat source may drop their buds.

And a note about the most traditional of holiday plants, the Christmas tree. When bringing home a freshly field cut tree it should have a new cut about one inch from the old base. Having a fresh cut will remove any clogged wood that may not readily absorb water. Depending on the size of the tree, it may absorb up to a gallon of water the first day you have its in the tree stand. Always make sure there is plenty of water in the tree stand. To keep the needles fresh longer you may want to consider spraying the tree with Wilt-Pruf or another type of antiranspirant. These are clear films which slow water loss from the needles. Insects can hitch a ride on your tree. To prevent bugs from coming into your home, shake the tree and bounce it on the pavement a few times before bringing it indoors. If you see signs of insects, spray the tree with a insecticide containing pyrethrins before bringing it indoors.

Plants add color, texture, and smells to your holiday festivities. Spending time to get to know what your plants need will add to your enjoyment throughout the holiday season.

About the author: Donna Evans is co-owner of Gizmo Creations LLC, a website design and landscape design company. For more articles on landscape design check out their website at http://www.gizmocreations.com. Gizmo also has affordable website development prices and offers hosting services for small businesses and non-profit organizations.

Top 10 Telemarketer Repellant

First, I must confess this is not all my work. I have a friend who sends me little snippets of things like this on a regular basis. This one was so good I wanted to share it with all the Lifehack community.

Second, I must also admit that in my youth I have worked in phone based sales. A simple “no thank you” always worked for me. But, some folks were a little more aggressive about things.

If you have ever been plagued by telemarkets here are some strategies (some not so nice) that should free up you phone line pretty quickly.

how to be interesting

Russell Davies has his blog at the following address:

http://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2006/11/how_to_be_inter.html

Check it out. He has some interesting subjects. Here is just an example of one:

While I was at the U of O I kept going on about how the core skill of any future creative business person will be 'being interesting'. People will employ and want to work with (and want to be with) interesting people.

And since I’d spent quite a lot of time telling them all the things they should stop doing I’d thought I’d try and teach something useful. Since I don't actually know anything useful I had to make something up. Which is below. It takes about 10 minutes to teach but it’ll take a lifetime for people to work out if it works or not, and by then I’ll be long gone. Ha!

The way to be interesting is to be interested. You’ve got to find what’s interesting in everything, you’ve got to be good at noticing things, you’ve got to be good at listening. If you find people (and things) interesting, they’ll find you interesting.

Interesting people are good at sharing. You can’t be interested in someone who won’t tell you anything. Being good at sharing is not the same as talking and talking and talking. It means you share your ideas, you let people play with them and you’re good at talking about them without having to talk about yourself.

The marvelous thing about tinterweb is that it’s got great tools for being interested and great tools for sharing. So I’ve used them a lot. It should, of course, be obvious that there are many other ways to be interesting. Some of them don't involve computers at all. These are just 10 things, and if you do them you’ll get more interesting. Or at the very least you’ll start practising the skills of being interesting.

It's sort of didactic, bossy even, but it's supposed to be instructional, rules you can follow. If you do them, and send me evidence that you’ve done them for three months, then I’ll send you a marvelous ‘I’m More Interesting Than I Was Three Months Ago’ certificate.

You should carry a camera with you. A phonecam will do. The act of carrying a camera, and always keeping an eye out for a picture to take changes the way you look at the world. It makes you notice more things. It keeps you tuned in.

Posting it to flickr (or other photosharing sites) means that you’re sharing it. It’s in public. This will make you think a little harder about what you shoot and it might draw you into conversation about your pictures.

This is pretty easy. If you just did this much I’d be disapppointed. You should write more sentences. Or you should write one true sentence. But I suspect that you won’t be able to limit yourself to just one sentence, I suspect you’ll get bitten and want to do more.

It’s easy to knock blogging as a kind of journalism of the banal but in some ways that’s its strength. Bloggers don’t go out and investigate things (mostly) they’re not in exciting or glamorous places, they’re not given a story, they have to build one out of the everyday lives they lead. And this makes them good at noticing things, things that others might not have seen. And being a blogger, feeling the need to write about stuff makes you pay attention to more things, makes you go out and see more stuff, makes you carry a notebook, keeps you tuned in to the world.

Interesting people are interested in all sorts of things. That means they explore all kinds of worlds, they go places they wouldn’t expect to like and work out what’s good and interesting there. An easy way to do this is with magazines. Specialist magazines let you explore the solar system of human activities from your armchair. Try it, it’s fantastic.

5. Once a month interview someone for 20 minutes, work out how to make them interesting. Podcast it.

Again, being interesting is about being interested. Interviewing is about making the other person the star; finding out what they know or think that’s interesting. Could be anyone, a friend, a colleague, a stranger, anyone. Find out what’s compelling about them. Interviewing stops you butting in too much and forces you to listen. Good thing to practice. (And it's worth noticing the people who are good at it.) Podcasting is sharing. Sharing is something you must get used to.

It could be anything. It could be pictures of things. But become an expert in something unexpected and unregarded. Develop a passion. Learn how to communicate that to other people without scaring them off. Find the other few people who share your interest. Learn how to be useful in that community.

7. Once a week sit in a coffee-shop or cafe for an hour and listen to other people’s conversations. Take notes. Blog about it. (Carefully)

Take little dips in other people’s lives. Listen to their speech patterns and their concerns. Try and get them down on paper. (Don’t let them see. Try not to get beaten up.) Don’t force it, don’t hop from table to table in search of better eavesdropping, just bask in the conversations that come your way.

8. Every month write 50 words about one piece of visual art, one piece of writing, one piece of music and one piece of film or TV. Do other art forms if you can. Blog about it

If you want to work in a creative business (and before long most businesses will be creative businesses) you’ll have to get used to having a point of view on artistic stuff. Even if it’s not very artistic. You’ll have to be comfortable with expressing an opinion on things you don’t know how to make or do, like music or writing. You get better at that through practice. And through sharing what you’ve written.

Do something with your hands. Create something from nothing. It could be knots, it could be whittling, Lego, cake or knitting. Take some time to get outside your head. Ideally, make something you have no idea how to do. Get something from Make and try it, assuming you’ll screw it up the first time. People love people who can make things. Making’s the new thinking. Share your things on the your blog, or, if you’re brilliant maybe you can share them on etsy.

All these books are good for their own reasons but they’re also good examples of people who are really interested in stuff that others think of as banal and who explain it in a way that makes you share their passion. That's good.

1. Wash hands thoroughly before preparing food and after handling hazardous or raw foods. Lather with soap and hot water for 20 seconds, which is about the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song. Rinse well and dry with clean disposable paper towels.

2. Invest in a fridge thermometer to ensure that your fridge is at the correct holding temperature of 4C(40F). Probe thermometers should be used to ensure that foods have been cooked to the proper temperature.

3. Hot foods should be stored at a temperature greater than 60C(140F) Once hot food is served, uneaten food should not be left to sit out' it should be placed in the proper storage containers and in the fridge.

4. Raw meats should always be placed on the bottom shelves in the fridge in case of leakage. Vegetables and other ready-to-eat foods should be stored above.

5. All dry goods must be stored at least 6 inches off the floor and in properly sealed containers. This will prevent the entry of rodents, insects or other matter.

6. Do not overpack the fridge or freezer. This will restrict air flow and prevent the equipment from functioning properly.

7. Prevent cross-contamination when preparing food. Use designated utensils and different coloured cutting boards for different foods.

For example, red boards may be used for raw meats, green boards for produce only etc.

8. When cleaning food contact surfaces, wash first with soap and water and then sanitizied with mild solution of bleach and water(2mil of chlorine leach for every 1 liter of water)

9. Replace and launder dishcloths on a daily basis. In the interim, dishcloths can be stored in a bucket of bleach and water(2mil of chlorine bleach for every 1 liter of water). This solution should be changed often throughout the day and made fresh each morning.

10. After washing all dishes and utensils, allow them to air-dry to prevent cross-contamination from towels.

This article comes courtesy of Sudbury and District Health Unit, Food Watch flyer.

Ten Ways To Tell If Someone Is Lying To You

Wouldn’t be useful to know who is lying to you. How would you trust a person - only if the person wouldn’t lie to you. “The truth is out there” - (insert X-Files theme song) - see, human love to know the truth.

Elisabeth Eaves at Forbes gives number of ways for you to detect lies. Couple of indications include:

Car Tip: Prepare For Winter

It's a late winter afternoon and you're driving down to the family cottage, when all of a sudden your car breaks down in the middle of the road. It's thirty degrees with a high windshield factor to boot, and there's nobody in sight. Your kids are cold and your wife is scared, but you have the situation under control (yeah right!).

You're in a panic because your cell phone is not retrieving signals and the next gas station is at least 5 miles away. The point here is, how can you avoid being caught in such a treacherous situation?

The best way to get yourself out of a precarious situation is to prevent it before it actually happens. Therefore, in order to diminish the likelihood of your car breaking down in the middle of winter, get your car winterized. Just follow this simple checklist before the first snowfall and you'll be ready to shake, rattle and roll.

First of all, have your car serviced at least before the beginning of November. Have your mechanic pay special attention to these important points:

· Check for old, damaged, and loose rubber hoses and drive belts because they can make your car inoperable in very cold weather.

· Make sure all filters and fluids are thoroughly checked for maximum efficiency.

· Check the PH level and concentration of the cooling system. A perfect mix is 50% anti-freeze liquid and 50% water. Add up to 70% anti-freeze if you're expecting temperatures of below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

· Have your battery tested, especially if you're within one year of your warranty.

· Clean and tighten all connections to the battery. Look for corrosion and ensure that you have proper fluid level.

· Finally, have a mechanic do a quick spot check on all major components such as brakes

Once your mechanic has checked these more technical parts, verify the more superficial but equally important items. Here is what you need to look for:

· Check your owner's manual to find out which oil is best suited for the winter season. Most cars require standard 10W30 oil, which is good for all seasons.

· In extremely cold temperatures, add de-icer fluids to prevent the moisture in your fuel from freezing.

· Look for holes in the floorboards or trunk area so that the exhaust doesn't penetrate your car's cabin. This is especially important during the winter season, when car windows are closed.

· Avoid driving with four-season tires. Winter tires make a huge difference where traction is concerned, and they will lengthen the life of your summer tires.

· Check if your tires are thin or if their treads are uneven. Also, check for damaged sidewalls and replace the tires if needed.

· All lights should be completely functional as these are essential for visibility, especially during a snowstorm.

· All heaters and defrosters should be inspected to make sure they work properly. These aspects ensure road visibility and passenger comfort.

· Invest in winter windshield blades if they are available for your car. Make sure your windshield wipers are fully operational; they are crucial for removing snow and slush from your front windshield.

Finally, if you don't want to be caught empty-handed when struck by bad luck on the road, always keep an emergency kit in your trunk. Here are the essentials needed to keep your car well-stocked:

Tips for liking someone better (or disliking that person less).

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
This Wednesday...Tips for liking someone better (or disliking that person less).

Some people are part of your life, whether you want them there or not. What if you don’t have the warmest of feelings for your boss? your mother-in-law? your next-door neighbor?

It’s easy to come up with a mental catalogue of all the ways in which that person could change to be less annoying, domineering, passive-aggressive, arrogant, etc.—but fact is, you can’t change anyone but yourself.

Here are some tips about how to help yourself cultivate more friendly feelings. It’s quite a strain to hide feelings of dislike; if you can manage to change your feelings, you’ll be much happier. It’s hard, but not impossible.

1. Seek contact. You may feel like avoiding that person, but because of the psychological phenomenon known as the “mere exposure effect,” we tend to like people better themorewe see them.

2. Do nice things for that person. “We prefer to see those to whom we do good than those who do good to us.” La Rochefoucauld.

3. Give that person a brief touch. “Subliminal touching,” i.e., touching a person so unobtrusively that it’s not noticed, increases people’s sense of well-being and positive feelings.

4. Lighten up. Joke about whatever annoys you, and if you can manage it, laugh about itwith that person, or poke fun atyour own reaction. Nothing neutralizes bad feelings like a good laugh. This can be tough, however.

5. Act friendly. We think weact because of the way wefeel, but often wefeel because of the way weact. So act the way you want to feel. This is uncannily effective—just try it.

6. Resist criticizing that person. When you voice your complaints, they assume a solidity in your mind that’s hard to eliminate. When your thoughts remain unspoken, they can more easily be changed.

7. Remember happy shared experiences. Recalling good times elevates mood and will help warm your feelings.

8. Be grateful. Reflecting on reasons to feel grateful, instead of reasons to be angry or annoyed, will help change your view.

Buying a car can be a difficult, frustrating task if you don’t know what you’re doing or looking for. This site tries to help you get rid of the guess work with its tips. When you think about it, a car is usually the first investment anyone makes and since they depreciate in value over time, you want to get your money’s worth for sure.

Choosing a Car – This section discusses some of the things you want to think about as you choose a car to purchase. Will it suit your lifestyle needs? What do you value in a car? Find out the questions you should ask yourself before buying.

Buying a New Car – Here you will find tips on the kind of research you should do if you have your heart set on a brand new car, as well as, things you should keep in mind when you are on the lot. There are also some negotiating tips.

Buying a Used Car – Buying a used car can be just as tricky as negotiating your price point on a new car, but it does have some advantages. This section discusses the advantages and disadvantages of buying a used car, as well as, the differences between buying it from a car dealer or a private seller. If you’re on a budget and willing to do your homework, this is a great way to get a car in your price range.

Selling a Used Car – So, you’ve worn out your car and want to sell it. Well, then check out this section and find out what you need to know to get that car to sell fast.

Auto Warranties – Here you can learn about what warranties come with cars, from the Lemon Laws most places have, to dealership warranties. This is always helpful information to review. Also, make sure you find out about the Lemon Laws in your area before buying.

Auto Financing – This section covers the different ways you can finance your new car, whether through the dealership or a bank. Make sure you look for hidden fees as well. You’ll learn about the pros and cons of each way of financing, as well as, options for financing for people who don’t have perfect credit.

So, now you have a taste of the tips offered here. You can also get tips on leasing a car, auto insurance, car repairs and even car auctions. So, when you go to purchase your next vehicle, you will be prepared and you'll have confidence in your choices!

Ten Financial Tricks and Treats
by Erin Burt

Do you have trouble making ends meet? Keeping your spending under control? Finding money to save or invest? Often the path to financial success doesn't come from sheer discipline or money savvy but from tricking yourself into saving more and spending less.

You know, for example, you need to pay off your credit cards, but before you know it you've either racked up more debt or run out money that month before you could make an extra payment. You know you need to start saving for your future -- but you can barely make ends meet. Sound familiar? Have no fear. No matter how scary your finances, we've got ten tricks that'll bring you some pretty sweet treats.

TRICK #1: Give up your daily latte.

Don't think you have enough money to invest or make ends meet each month? Nearly everybody has some fat they can trim from their spending. Forgoing your $4 latte every day, for example, would save you about $120 a month. Investing that money every month for ten years into an account earning 10% interest would net you nearly $25,000. Keep it up until retirement, and you'd have more than $765,000 in 40 years.

In his book The Automatic Millionaire, David Bach calls this the "latte factor." But it really isn't about coffee at all. Rather, he says, it's about identifying those small purchases that dribble your money away -- whatever they may be -- so you can save big over the long term. Use our calculator to see how quickly small investments can add up. Then check out our Ultimate Savings Guide for 89 ideas on how to save money every day.

TRICK #2: Put your credit card on ice -- literally.

When you're trying to pay down your credit card debt, you'll whittle away at it much faster if you avoid making any more charges in the meantime. To resist the temptation, think "out of sight, out of mind." Take your credit cards out of your wallet entirely. Stash them in the bottom of your sock drawer, or entrust them to a friend or relative for safekeeping. You could even place them in a bag of water and throw it in the freezer -- you'd have to wait for it to melt before you could use it, which would hopefully be long enough for your impulse to pass.

TRICK #3: Use cash for all your expenses.

Looking for a foolproof way to keep your spending under control? Try stashing cash in envelopes according to categories so you can see how much you're actually spending. For example, use one envelope for groceries, another envelope for gas and transportation, another envelope for eating out or entertainment, etc. Then when you run out of money in each envelope, you simply don't spend any more until next month. The so-called "envelope system" may sound corny or a little old fashioned, but it could be just the trick to keep you disciplined.

TRICK #4: Pay your bills automatically.

You forgot to write the check. You couldn't find postage. You lost the pre-printed envelope that came with your bill. There are a lot of excuses for forgetting to make a payment or paying a bill late, but they all result in the same negative effect on your credit rating. Thankfully, many banks will allow you to sign up to have all your bills taken directly out of your checking account, including your credit card, cell phone, utility and cable bills. Some banks may charge a monthly fee for the service. Or, you can probably make individual arrangements with each biller to take the money directly out of your checking account. This requires a little initial legwork on your part, but once you set it up, you can forget about it.

Using an automatic bill pay service for your credit cards specifically is also a good way to whittle away your balance faster. You can arrange, for example, to pay off your balance in full each month. Or arrange for a fixed amount to be paid off without having to lift a finger.

TRICK #5: Ask for a lower interest rate on your credit card.

It sounds almost too easy, but this little trick is amazingly effective. A five-minute call to your lender could save you hundreds of dollars on interest charges and help you pay off your debts sooner. In 2002, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group asked 50 consumers of varying credit backgrounds to call their lenders and ask for lower rates. The strategy worked for more than half the group, with the average rate reduction going from 16% to 10.5%. That big of a rate chop on a $2,000 balance would save you nearly $200 over 2 1/2 years. Credit card companies spend hundreds of dollars trying to acquire new customers, so they may be willing to negotiate to keep your business, says Howard Dvorkin, founder of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services. It certainly doesn't hurt to ask. Find out more tricks to lower your debt right now.

TRICK #6: Put your savings on autopilot.

What could be sweeter than always having enough money for your savings, never forgetting to make a contribution and eventually retiring a millionaire? All you need to do is sign up to have a fixed amount automatically taken out of your paycheck to go directly into savings or investments. When you pay yourself first, you won't even miss the money after it's gone.

An employer-sponsored 401(k) is a great choice, especially if your company offers a free match on the money you put in. You also could arrange with a broker or mutual fund company to have a set dollar amount transferred from your checking account each month into a Roth IRA. You won't have to remember to mail in a check, so you won't inadvertently derail your path to riches. All it would take for a 25-year-old to retire a millionaire is $158 per month invested in an account earning 10% annually. Use this calculator to see how far your investments can take you over time.

TRICK #7: Save regularly for recurring expenses, too.

This is a trick that helped me break my habit of relying on my credit cards or raiding my savings account whenever a big annual or semi-annual expense came up. I set up several high-yield savings accounts with one online bank and arranged for automatic deposits into those accounts on a regular basis. For example, I have a car insurance fund, a holiday gift fund and a vacation fund. (HSBCdirect.com, EmigrantDirect.com or INGDirect.com are good online bank choices.) Each account is linked to my checking account at my regular brick-and-mortar bank and I can transfer money in and out easily online for free.

If you automatically save a little money on a regular basis, it doesn't take much to build up a good stash for when your big expenses come due. For example, I arranged for a mere $25 a month to transfer from my checking account into my holiday gift fund each month. That's much easier for me to manage than coming up with $300 all at once come December.

TRICK #8: Set long-term goals with a buddy.

One of our biggest enemies when it comes to making financial decisions is our short-term memory. We get impatient when our investment balances don't grow as quickly as we'd like, or our friends seem to be having more financial success than we are. Or we just get tired of scrimping and saving and get the overwhelming urge for a splurge. I swear, for example, that all my friends either already own a home or are buying one right now while I'm stuck renting. But instead of letting the pressure lead me to make an impulsive decision, my husband and I regularly sit down to discuss our finances. This helps to keep our long-term goals in focus. We defined our goals early on -- such as saving for a down payment, starting a retirement fund and taking an annual vacation. Then we set up plans to reach them, and now we discuss our progress regularly. Having that accountability with someone (a spouse, best friend, family member, etc.) helps motivate you to stay on track.

TRICK #9: Ignore your annual raise or year-end bonus.

Expecting a raise this year? Pretend you're not. By keeping your standard of living the same and not increasing your spending with each bump in pay, you can pocket the extra money and use it to reach your goals. The same goes for that year-end bonus or tax refund. If you're making $40,000 and you get a 3% raise, that's an extra $100 per month before taxes are taken out. Even after Uncle Sam takes his share, you'll have plenty left to do some good. For example, it only takes a few extra bucks to start your emergency savings, begin investing or pay extra toward your credit card debt. You could even use the money for something fun. Start stashing it in a vacation savings fund so you can afford to have a real travel adventure next year instead of the old crash-on-Mom's-couch getaway.

TRICK #10: Give yourself a raise.

Not getting a raise this year? Take matters into your own hands. You could get hundreds of dollars added to your take-home pay each year simply by telling Uncle Sam not to take so many taxes out. Most of us give the government too much upfront -- that's why we get tax refunds in the spring. Take back your money and use it throughout the year instead to help you make ends meet, boost your emergency savings or start investing for your future. All you need to do is file a new W-4 form with your employer to adjust your "withholding." See Do-It-Yourself Pay Raise for more information and try our Easy Withholding Calculator to make filling out your new W-4 a snap.

Wedding Cost Saving Advice: Top 5 Tips For Weddings On A Shoestring Budget
By Helen Rankin - Oct 24, 2006, 09:19

With the average wedding now costing £17,000, many couples are now looking for ways to have a 'celebrity' stylish wedding, without the celebrity price tag. The first tip is simple – ask for a discount. The worst that can happen is that they say 'No'. You might be a bit embarrassed, but what have you lost? We’ve pulled together 5 other top tips to help you create your dream wedding on a shoestring
budget.

1. Choosing The Wedding Venue

Your venue is probably going to be the single biggest wedding expense that you’ll have to pay, with many of the more popular venues charging £2000 upwards. But you don’t need to spend this sort of money to have a fabulous venue.

Wedding Venue Cost Saving Tip:

Many village halls, golf and rugby clubs have suitable rooms available for a fraction of the price. The trick is to see past the existing décor and imagine it sprinkled with hundreds of fairy lights or candles – think of Ross’s wedding on the hit show Friends that Rachel ruined!

If you've found the wedding venue of your dreams, but it looks as if it will be out of your budget, don't despair. Many venues offer significant discounts for mid-week or 'out of season' weddings which can run into thousands of pounds.

2. Food At The Wedding

Deciding what kind of menu you want to offer for your wedding can be difficult enough without having to see the price tag that goes along with it!

Food Budget Cost Saving Tip:

There are lots of ways to cut back on your food budget, and still have a memorable day. Selecting a venue where you can bring in your own caterers is often a much better value than using the existing venue catering. You can even go as far as preparing all the food yourself, though be careful of taking too much.

If you don't have a choice about which caterer you use, there are still ways that you can trim your spending costs. Try replacing the starter course with canapés, instead of having both. Or, replace dessert with your wedding cake – so often wedding cake gets forgotten about because guests have already had so much to eat.

A new idea that brides are buzzing about is the wedding 'cheese' cake. Literally, it is three slabs of cheese turned into a wedding cake for that special 'cutting of the cake' photograph and ceremony. Why not combine the two instead of having a separate cheese and cake course? Or serve this with crackers, chutney and pate for your evening guests?

3. Drinks At The Wedding

To have a free bar, or cash bar? Such a difficult question to answer. Of course, it would be fantastic to offer a free bar to all your guests, all day, but with limited funds, it’s not a realistic option for most people.

Booze Budget Cost Saving Tip:

The ideal in this instance is to use a venue where you can bring your own booze. I was lucky enough to be able to do this at our wedding and managed to pop across to France and buy 180 bottles of wine and 240 beers, plus Pimms and cassis for under £500. We had stacks left and our guests were restricted to beer, wine or soft drinks, but no one seemed to mind.

Another option is to come to an arrangement with the hotel regarding corkage. A friend got married in a hotel, which charged £10 per bottle of wine. She arranged a flat fee of £500 for all of her beer and wine opening. Although it seems like a lot, it meant that she could afford to supply beer and wine for her guests.

4. Bridalwear

With most bridal dresses starting around £600 and running into thousands of pounds, this is a huge expense.

Bridalwear Cost Saving Tip:

You can still look fabulous for a fraction of the price and feel that you're minimising the eco-footprint of your wedding by buying a 'pre-loved' wedding dress.

Many charity shops have specialist 'bridalwear' departments where you can purchase new and designer dresses that have been worn once. You can try the dresses on before buying and you'll get a warm glow from doing something for 'Charidee'.

If you're a little braver, you can venture online, where there are some fantastic bargains to be had in the 'pre-loved' lines. Take a look at some of the 'For Sale' forums of the popular wedding websites and you'll see bridal dresses, veils, tiaras and those Jimmy Choo shoes that you know you want for a fraction of the cost.

5. The Wedding Photography

Many couples feel that photography is a major part of the day and are prepared to pay upwards of £2000 for a beautifully presented wedding album. Photographers have confirmed that it isn’t the actual photography, which is the major part of this expense, but printing and preparation of the formal wedding albums.

Wedding Photography Cost Savings Tip:

Many photographers are prepared to attend your wedding day and then provide you with a DVD of your photos for around £600. With the DVD, you can then use some of the fantastic online services to prepare your own 'Photo Book' - costing much less. Or, as many guests will no doubt have digital cameras with them, combine place cards with little notes asking them to share their wedding photos on your online directory.

Another excellent tip for having a photo keepsake of your wedding is to use several Instant Photo Guest Books, which combine Polaroid Instant Photos and hand-written sentiments from your guests. These photo guest books are ready to enjoy the "instant" your wedding is over -- and creating them adds great fun to the wedding reception!

Helen Rankin, Founder of Instant Forever -- http://www.instantforever.com and distributor of Adesso Albums in the UK and Europe, helps you capture your wedding memories forever. The Adesso Album is the only guest book alternative that captures your wedding event in an Instant in both pictures and words, and preserves it Forever. Capture your wedding in an instant with a Wedding Photo Guest Book

While it may seem counterintuitive, some types of flooring and furniture are best cleaned dry using a dry cleaning mop or in combination with a light cleaner such as a dusting spray. Hard wood floors and laminates, for example, can be damaged by too much moisture. In order to keep the finish on these floors in the best condition, a cleaning mop specially designed for this purpose can create the best clean. A dry mop made from 100% cotton, for example, will not scratch the delicate surfaces on polished hard wood floors or specialty laminates. Over time, even the smallest scratches can create a dull appearance.

Dry cleaning mops are designed in such a way as to pick up and retain dust and small particles. As such, they are good for collecting dirt in between deeper cleanings. They also reduce the spread of dust and small dirt particles into the air, which can exacerbate allergies and asthmas. When used in combination with a dusting product, the chances of dust being kicked into the air by the mop are even smaller.

When cleaning a hardwood or laminate floor with a dry mop, begin at the far end of the room and work inward, using a figure eight pattern on the floor. This keeps the dust and particles moving toward you and is much easier on your back as it distributes the effort more evenly through your arms and back. Avoid using the mop to push the dirt and grime away from you as this can create dust flying up. The pulling motion, on the other hand, keeps the mop head in contact with the floor that eliminates dust kicking up. Keep the mop head in contact with the floor as you clean. Even though the cleaning mop is dry, it is a different cleaning motion than a broom.

Avoid the temptation to use your dry mop as a wet mop. These cleaning mops are specifically designed to be used dry, and while they may work as a wet mop, it won't be as effective thereafter as either a wet or dry mop. Additionally, dry cleaning mops do not have a mechanism for squeezing out excess liquid, which is both messy and hard on your hands and back. Besides, many specialty floorings should never be cleaned using a wet mop, such as Pergo and others. If you have specialty flooring in your home, be sure to read the manufacturer's recommendations on the care. Using the right tool for the job is one of the best tricks in effective cleaning and ultimately saves time and money.

When using a cleaning mop designed to be used dry, avoid scrubbing the floor with the mop. For caked on dirt or grime, other cleaning methods should be employed, using products and guidelines specific to your type of flooring. Because the cleaning mop is designed to trap and hold dirt, putting too much pressure on the mop can create scratches on the floor caused by the dirt particles trapped inside the mop.

Depending on the style, the best mop will be designed in such a way that in can be used to reach under low and heavy furniture such as beds or bookcases. This allows you to clean without having to break your back moving heavy furniture. It also eliminates the need to drag out a heavy vacuum to clean a small area. Some cleaning mops have the added benefit of removable heads that can be used as a hand duster, which eliminates the need to purchase specialty dusters or mitts. . The ability to replace the heads also eliminates the need for purchasing a new dry mop when the old one becomes too dirty.

Even with the removable head feature, you can still clean a cleaning mop head prior to replacing it. To avoid scattering dust in the house, take the cleaning mop outside and give it a good shake. Because these mops are designed to retain dust, it may take a bit of effort. If you use the mop with a dusting product, be sure to allow the mop ample time to dry before shaking out the excess dust. Avoid banging the dry mop head on walls, cement, or other outdoor furniture as this can damage the head.

To keep your cleaning mop in the best possible condition, store it upside down or hanging from a wall so that there is no pressure on the mop head. This helps your mop remain the best mop possible for as long as possible.

Visit http://www.fuller-brush-products.com

Posted: 23 Oct 2006 07:00 AM CDT

On a street corner near our house is a store called The Dig, which advertises “most clothes $3 - $4 - $5″. Many of these are items of the latest fashions, which have been rejected for whatever reason. Clean and organized, the store also has dressing rooms, something many thrift stores lack. I used to mock Kris for going to The Dig. It looked like a dive. Then I joined her for a trip a couple of weeks ago — now I’m a convert.

I buy most of my clothing at one of two places: Costco or the local thrift shops. It makes me wince to pay more than $20 for a piece of clothing. (Unless it’s something top quality, like a Filson jacket, in which case I’ll gladly pay $150.) Costco has styles I like, but the selection is limited, and the prices are three times those at thrift stores. Thrift stores have a huge selection, but the garments are often flawed. And to find anything good, you have to sort through tons of junk.

Used clothing stores like The Dig are a compromise. The prices are better than at Costco. The selection isn’t as wide as you might find at a thrift store, but the quality is generally better. Here are some tips about shopping for second-hand clothes. (Kris gave a lot of help with these.)

1. Set a budget. This is difficult at first — you don’t know how much things cost. But eventually you’ll be able to tell yourself, “I’m going spend $20 today”. It becomes a game to see how much you can buy for $20.

2. Discard your prejudices. Some people consider thrift stores and used clothing shops nasty dirty places. Some are. Most aren’t. Explore your neighborhood. Find a shop or two that you like, and you’ll be hooked. (My mother-in-law was nonplused when we shopped for used clothes on our San Francisco vacation, but even she became excited when she found a new pair of her favorite Birkenstocks — in her size! — for just $8.)

3. Go with a friend. It’s good to have a second opinion. Your friend may have an eye for what looks good on you — and vice versa.

4. Try things on. Sizes vary widely between manufacturers and even by eras. (Today’s clothes have looser fits.) But go in knowing your general size and measurements. Note that some places don’t have dressing rooms, so it’s smart to wear a modest thin layer in case you need to strip down in the aisle.

5. Examine each item thoroughly. It sucks to get home to find your new shirt has a hole in the pocket. Or that the slacks you thought were a steal actually have a broken zipper.

6. Check washing instructions. You don’t want to pay $3 for a silk blouse if you’ll never dry-clean it.

7. Use the tags as a guide to find quality brands you like, but don’t limit yourself. Sometimes a brand you’ve never heard of can yield a favorite piece of clothing.

8. Think layers. Maybe that shirt with a stain on the sleeve has a great collar for wearing under a sweater. For $3, you can afford to buy a single-purpose shirt.

9. Use thrift stores as a way to diversify your wardrobe. Buy colors and styles on which you normally wouldn’t spend much. Wear the new clothes a few times to see how you like them, and to gauge the reaction of others.

10. Used clothing stores are great for certain accessories. Why pay $30 for a new belt in a department store when you can get a better belt in your size for just $2? I like to shop at second-hand stores for hats. (Nice hats.)

11. Look for clothes new with tags. Sometimes unsold department store inventory finds its way to used clothing stores and thrift shops. You’ll generally pay more for these items, but not much.

12. If you won’t wear it, don’t buy it. You don’t save money buying a $3 shirt if it just sits in your closet for two years.

13. Wash clothes when you get them home.

14. Watch for sales. Used clothing stores (and thrift stores) run periodic specials. Our favorite local store just ran a half-off sale. The local thrift stores often have specials on certain items.

15. If you go to the same store often, ask when they rotate stock. Stores get new shipments regularly. Most also have extra stock in storage. If you become familiar with the owners, you might even ask them to keep an eye out for particular items.

16. If buying used clothes becomes a habit, institute a “one in-one out policy”. Every time you bring home something new, get rid of something old. (Give it away, take it to a thrift store, or save it for a garage sale.)

17. Have fun! Buying used clothing can save you money. It’s also a fun way to kill a Saturday afternoon. At $3 an item, you can afford to be adventurous sometimes.

15. Take one or two percent to treat yourself and your family. If you receive a windfall, by all means do something special. But do it modestly. How much is 1-2%? It’s $10-$20 on a $1,000 windfall. It’s $100-$200 on a $10,000 windfall. It’s $1000-$2000 on a $100,000 windfall.

16. Use some or all of the money to pay off debt. As unglamorous as this sounds, it’s the best course of action. If you have existing debt, use your windfall to get rid of it. This will free up cash flow, and you’ll essentially be able to enjoy a prolonged time-release windfall.

17. Deposit the rest of the money in a safe account. Put it someplace that will earn you interest while you decide what to do with it.

18. Do not touch the money for several months. Allow the initial emotion to pass. Get over the initial urge to spend the money on a big house or a fancy car. Live your life as you has before.

19. Make a wish list. Spend time learning how much the windfall can buy. Most people have unrealistic expectations about how much $10,000 or $100,000 or $1,000,000 can buy. Resist all temptations to use the money now, but run the numbers to see what it could buy.

20. Get professional help. Do not obtain advice from somebody who might profit from your money, such as a commissioned broker. Find a good CPA who does not sell investment products.

Starting a family tradition sounds like an oxymoron, right? But traditions have to start somewhere.

Studies show that traditions are quite important to family happiness. In fact, family rituals encourage children's social development and boost feelings of family cohesiveness by 17%. They help provide connection and predictability, which people--especially children--crave. Without traditions, holidays don't feel much different from ordinary life. And they're a lot of fun.

1. As with all things in life, GET ENOUGH SLEEP and EXERCISE REGULARLY. Traditions take energy. They commit you to mailing out those Valentine's cards or making homemade ice cream for the Fourth of July. If you're exhausted all the time, these tasks will be a burden instead of a joy.

2. Don't fight your natural inclinations. Although participating in the annual Thanksgiving cancer walk-a-thon sounds like a great yearly tradition, if you're a family of couch potatoes, you probably won't stick with it. Maybe the whole family could watchThe Sound of Musicon Thanksgiving night instead.

3. Traditions are more meaningful if everyone participates. But you can't just dole out chores and expect people to help cheerfully. Think about what each person likes to do: cook a signature dish, put up decorations, pick the music, run errands, deal with the grill or fireplace.

4. It's wonderful to carry traditions through generations, but don't be too upset if you can't keep up every element. For years, I insisted that we get a ceiling-high fresh Christmas tree, because "It's not Christmas without a real tree!" When I was growing up, buying the tree was a key part of the holiday, and I couldn't let go of that. Finally, I realized that it just doesn't make sense for my family now. We always go for a long Christmas visit to Kansas City, where my mother puts up two or three amazingly gorgeous trees--one decorated with nothing but Santas Claus ornaments. We didn't get to enjoy our New York tree much, and it was a huge hassle. So now we just put up a lot of easy-to-handle decorations, and the "real tree" is part of what makes it fun to go to Kansas City.

5. If you're starting a new tradition, consider how it plays into family dynamics. You can't just announce, "The whole family is going to have Thanksgiving at our house from now on! It's no trouble at all!" and then get upset if people don't cooperate. Who hosts, who cooks (and what they cook), who cleans, who travels, and how in-laws get a turn are all loaded questions. Consequently, you may want to...

6. Consider under-celebrated holidays. Maybe you can come up with a fun tradition for Columbus Day. And Groundhog Day is ripe for a larger vision.

7. Don't load up a tradition with too many moving pieces. Our Halloween has exploded into: lots of Halloween decorations around the apartment; a carved jack-o-lantern; the decoration of a gingerbread haunted-house; costumes, of course; an official Halloween photo in a Halloween frame, for us and the grandparents; a Halloween party, complete with sandwiches cut into Halloween shapes, followed by trick-or-treating. Enough.

8.Children love it wheneverything stays the same, so try to keep as much consistency as possible--i.e., don't mess with the sweet potato recipe. My sister and I still enforce the elaborate Christmas-morning routine that we developed decades ago.

Have you ever noticed that honor guards pay meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times? Perhaps you thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!

The 1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.

The 6th fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the One who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nations motto, "In God We Trust."

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning. So, in the future, whenever you see 'Old Glory' folded in a flag ceremony, you will truly know what it means.

Did You Know That? Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."
Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.
Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.
Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.
Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer . Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never been advertised for this use. (Note: Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine is not the same..and contains aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding if you have ulcers.)
Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.
Listerine therapy for toenail fungus... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.
Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.
Coca-Cola cure for rust... Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.
Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.
Smart splinter remover...just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.
Hunt's tomato paste boil cure....cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.
Balm for broken blisters...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine ... a powerful antiseptic.
Heinz vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.
Kills fleas instantly. Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Goodbye fleas.
Rainy day cure for dog odor... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.
Eliminate ear mites... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
Quaker Oats for fast pain relief....It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

Some known by your grandmother, and forgotten as we get more specialty
products to do everyday things.

6) Elmer's Glue-paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads. Also works to remove splinters or cactus spines- just let dry on your skin.

11) Arthritis? WD-40. Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too. Also spray it on wasps nests - they'll be unable to move.

15) Paper cut - crazy glue or chap stick. Glue is used instead of sutures at most hospitals lately

17) Stinky feet - Jell-O!! A woman volunteered, said she actually had stinky feet, her feet were put in a pan of jello!

20) Kool aid to clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. Goodness, I've drank a lot of kool aid!

22) Kool aid in Dannon plain yogurt as a finger paint, "Your kids will love it and it won't hurt them if they eat it!"

23) Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee filter paper

25) Pam will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby

27) When the doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn starch and watch them slide on

29) Body paint - Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in the microwave, pour into a empty film container and mix with the food color of your choice!

30) Tie Dye T-Shirt - mix a solution of kool aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the t-shirt and soak

31) Stress buster - preferably for a work group - take a roll of scotch tape and a packet of straws and build a tower without talking to each other!

32) Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and 1/2 cup of milk of magnesia, soak for 20 min and let dry, will last for years!

35) Stay-Free Maxi Pads- clean window, floors, just stick to the palm of your hands and work! Can also be used as a knee pad.

36) Pampers as an absorbent! Remove stains from the carpet with club
soda &
a pamper to absorb. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt and watch it
absorb into the salt.

37) To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel.

39) Baked on food: fill container with water, add a Bounce softener sheet and the static from the Bounce will cause the baked on food to adhere to it. Soak overnight. Also; you can use two Efferdent tablets, soak overnight!

44) Grease Stains- Coca Cola, it will also remove grease stains from the driveway overnight. We know it will take corrosion from batteries!

47) Fleas in your carpet? 20 Mule Team Borax- sprinkle and let stand for 24 hours.

To Keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a little Clorox, or 2 Bayer aspirin, or just use7-up instead of water

Caution: If you use #46, please do not remove your hat. This makes "hat
hair" a whole new concept! I can see it now:

It is believed that certain gemstones and crystals have magical properties with astonishing implications for love and life. If you wear a crystal pendant near your heart for at least 21 days, you will begin to emulate the properties of that particular rock. The vibrations emitted from the individual crystal will lead to a higher level of positivity. It is said that this positive energy will attract your soul mate like a magnet, heal the wounds of past relationships, and bind friendships forever.

The Rose quartz is pink in color, and is known as the ‘Ultimate love stone’. It dispels negative emotional states including gloom, despondency, and possessiveness, whilst promoting harmonious relationships. The rose quartz gives the wearer the power of their emotions and opens heart for love- even if the individual has problems giving or receiving it. This gemstone is very calming and loving, giving softness to hardened hearts and teaching a broken heart to trust again. The rose quartz instills the ability for love to conquer all.

Malachite is forest green in color, and is known as the ‘Stone of transformation’. Malachite clears the heart of past experiences by unblocking and absorbing negative energy. It gives the courage to dispel fear in relationships, and the self-knowledge to be more tolerant, loyal, and practical. The properties of Malachite allow the wearer to break free of self-denial and helps them to avoid repeating old love patterns. It also promotes responsibility and fidelity in partnerships.

The Amethyst is of Royal purple coloring, and is known as ‘The master healer’. It purifies negative emotions and acts as a protective balance through trauma transitions. The flexibility, peace, and calm co-operation which the Amethyst elicits are reflected in all aspects of spiritual growth. Therefore, the Amethyst will help the wearer to love again and again.

The red Ruby is an ancient love stone of love and endurance. Its focus on the heart encourages romantic love, and promotes the ideal relationship. The ruby also releases disorientated or trapped love, and protects heart from suffering. This gemstone promotes the attainment of love objectives including health, happiness, wealth, and spiritual knowledge. The ruby can enhance dreams and attract great wealth.

The Carnelian is a vibrant orange stone which is said to increase levels of self-esteem. The Carnelian turns feelings of sadness, inadequacy and low self worth to initiative, enthusiasm and positivity. This stone is best used for recovery after rejection and to ready the emotions for forthcoming vibrant sexuality!

Clear quartz is known as ‘The abundance crystal’. It is alleged that the clear quartz channels creative thoughts into reality and provides a balance of harmony in life, health, and spirituality. It also leads to clearer, more logical thinking and lucid dreams. The clear quartz amplifies energy more than any other, so be careful what wish for… you might just get it!

The Emerald is an intense green color, and is known as “The prosperity stone”. This ancient love stone is said to retain properties which soften arrogance, and promote co-operation, particularly within busy family environments. The emerald cools an angry heart, whilst promoting divine love and peace. It dispels negative thoughts, and reawakens harmonious domestic loyalty in a practical sense. The prosperity stone will help to preserve love as it matures into a long-term relationship.

Jade is the pale green stone of fidelity. It provides peace, harmony, and tranquility through emotional turmoil, and can protect love from straying. This gemstone promotes self worth and sufficiency, allowing the wearer to build dreams into reality. Its merits are well known in Asia in aiding emotional soothing and protecting health. It is even said that Jade has the power to add a warm glow to the skin.

* For Less Stress The ‘Anti-stress’ stone Hematite is grey in coloring. When polished, Hematite looks like shiny steel. It offers emotional support to new love, and protects the heart from small problems which often occur at the beginning of relationships. The shiny surface of the rock reflects negativity, reduces stress, and helps to ground love energy so that it doesn’t fly away when challenged.

Joanne Elliott is an international freelance writer and illustrator involved in several different areas. Enquiries welcome: joelliott45@yahoo.co.uk

Three Reasons Most Budgets Don’t Work (and How To Fix Them)

Most people get too discouraged trying to get a budget to work. They spend hours trying to figure out how much to budget in each category and may even track every penny spent during the month only to find out that reality didn’t match what was budgeted. In these instances budgeting just seems like a futile theoretical exercise. There’s no follow up or reconciliation to tie one month’s budget to the next. Add to this the emotional issues that budgeting can trigger and your chances of maintaining a budget dive bomb. Many people who get to this point just give up and quit.

Let’s face it, budgeting can be a pain. Most people get too discouraged trying to get a budget to work. They spend hours trying to figure out how much to budget in each category and may even track every penny spent during the month only to find out that reality didn’t match what was budgeted. In these instances budgeting just seems like a futile theoretical exercise. There’s no follow up or reconciliation to tie one month’s budget to the next. Add to this the emotional issues that budgeting can trigger and your chances of maintaining a budget dive bomb. Many people who get to this point just give up and quit.

Why most budgets don’t work

1. Most budgets don’t reflect reality

Budgeting is an exercise in being wrong. Every time you sit down and write out all your categories and how much you think you’re going to spend, you’ll be wrong. Being wrong month after month quickly can get discouraging and many people give up. What’s the point in trying to predict how much you’ll spend each month if you know you’ll be wrong.

So you overspent. Ok, at least you know you overspent and that could be helpful in planning next month but where did that overspent money come from? How are you going to reconcile the difference?

Unfortunately there’s no way around being wrong. There’s really no solution besides developing obsessive tendancies and even then…good luck. You must first accept that you’ll be wrong…every month. My wife and I have never been right even though we’ve had an established budget for years. Accept it.

Now I’m NOT saying you won’t start getting really close. In fact, in many categories you will be right. But so far I’ve never been 100% right. Don’t get discouraged if you’re just starting out because for the first few months you’ll be REALLY wrong. It took us about 3-4 months until we started getting into our budget groove.

One way to get your budget closer to reality is to allocate every dollar of your income. If you have money left over after addressing your needs, allocate it. I don’t care where; put it in a “fun” category or direct it towards meeting a financial goal. Don’t just say “oh, I have leftover money. I must be doing really good at budgeting.” If you don’t allocate everything you will end up wasting that which is left over and your budget will be broken from month to month.

Another way to close the reality gap is to be realistic about what your needs are. Things like shelter, clothing, and food are not optional. Many people have unrealistic expectations about what they will spend on these categories. I’m certainly an advocate of being thrifty and looking for good deals but you can only take it so far. If you refuse to face how much you really need to spend in these categories to survive without eating ramen every night, your budget will not be an effective tool.

Yet another way of helping your budget reflect reality is to make sure you have a way of dealing with the difference between your budget and actual spending. And that leads us into our second problem.

2. Most budgets don’t connect one month to the next

Quicken is a great example of why this problem exists. Quicken’s budgeting feature seems great. It allows you to easily enter budget amounts and will even pre-populate projected amounts for you. At the end of the month you can run a nice neat report telling you how much you over or under-spent. There’s just one problem. There are no tools for helping you deal with the difference (if there are, please let me know about them). You just enter in the next month’s budget amounts using the exact same process and projections as the month before. This makes for a nice, neat, pretty budget sheet but not a very useful one.

Many people think a budget is a static document. You fill out one template reflecting all your categories and how much you should spend each month and use the exact same sheet from month to month. That’s not a budget. It’s a dead document. A real budget is a living document or series of documents. It changes from month to month and should be a reflection of reality, not a theoretical exercise.

The fact is, your expenses change from month to month. Car registrations sneak up on you. Unexpected birthdays pop up. Unexpected expenses happen. And you can’t always just take your yearly expenses and divide by 12. If your car registration is coming up in 3 months and you haven’t saved anything for it, dividing by 12 will only leave you with a quarter of what you need to pay it. The unique expenses for every month need to be dealt with individually, not just from a nice clean Quicken projection.

Is there too much money left over? Great. Where does it go? Should we pay off debt, save for retirement, save for a vacation, or just blow it and buy that new toy? I’m not against throwing caution to the wind as long as it’s done conciously and not by default.

Is there too little money to cover all our spending? Where did it come from? Will we be spending less on groceries, lowering our savings contribution, or going into more debt?

3. Most budgets don’t track the surplus money left over after all the categories are filled

For a budget to work, you must allocate ALL of your income to categories. As Dave Ramsey puts it, you must “spend your whole month on paper” before you spend it in real life. Other analogies that come to mind are Stephen Covey’s concept of the spiritual creation before the physical creation and David Allen’s idea of writing down EVERYTHING that is on your mind so you can get it out of your head and on paper.

Stephen Covey Comparison

Let’s look at the Covey analogy. Covey says that you should “begin with the end in mind.” One way of doing so is to create what you’re trying to achieve spiritually first, and then physically. A builder doesn’t build without a blue print. You should have a good idea of where you want to go either on paper or in your mind before you set out. Doing so makes your efforts more effective.

When it comes to finances, by writing ALL YOUR PLANNED SPENDING down on paper first (spiritual creation), your chances of actually following your plan significantly increase (physical creation). You’ll also be much more likely to achieve your larger financial goals (physical creation).

David Allen GTD Comparison

Now let’s consider David Allen’s idea of capturing everything on paper. He teaches that you should get anything and everything down on paper that occupies your mind. Doing so frees up “mental RAM” and allows you to spend your time more effectively rather than eating up endless mental cycles on the same issues, questions, and to-dos.

Similarly, by writing down how you are going to spend every dollar, you free yourself from mental worry and guilt and allow yourself to think about much more enjoyable things. Combine this with using cash for those categories that tend to be out of control and you can literally eliminate financial worry and anxiety. Every dollar you spend will be focused and controlled with very little effort.

No matter how you want to look at it, you need to allocate EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR ON PAPER for a budget to be of maximum effect. Why? Doing so forces you to really think about where you want your money to go and insures you use each dollar to it’s fullest. You’ll probably notice that when you don’t allocate every dollar, your left over dollars usually end up spending themselves. You end up with nothing to show for it, not even the concious realization that you had fun wasting that money.

Spend frivolously and feel good about it

By saying that you need to allocate every single dollar, I’m not saying you can’t have fun with your money or spend frivolously. Go ahead and conciously decide to have fun or even waste the leftover money. Allocate it as “fun” money to be spent however you want, whenever you want. By doing so you may enjoy spending that money even more. You’ll be able to do so with confidence and no guilt that you should be spending it elsewhere.

Decide before you’re in the heat of the moment

Like using cash, allocating all your funds allows you to make more concious decisions about where your money should go. Instead of waiting until you’re standing at the register, you can decide where your money will go while your looking at the big picture. Your decisions will be more rational and less emotional. You will also be able to direct your money towards meeting your larger, longer term goals. Instead of pittling money away, save for that new car or piece of furniture. Or for real financial peace, pay off debt.

Harness the power of focus

Allocating every dollar allows you to harness the power of focus. Take your plumbing, for example. Water by itself isn’t very useful in a puddle or lake. But give water the contraints and focus of a pipe and all of a sudden it can be used for your toilet or sink. Focus water through a hose and you can water your lawn or put out a fire. The constraint actually makes the water more powerful and useful. Similarly constraining your money by allocating every dollar makes your money more useful and powerful. Your ability to save and reach your goals will be increased.

See if you can identify with this personal example. Before we got our financial acts together, every time we recieved a bonus, raise, gift, or other unexpected income the money would just seem to slip through the cracks. Most people tend to expand their lifestyle to meet their income. In contrast, imagine if you were able to focus and direct every extra dollar. Every time you got a bonus, heck, every time you saved $5 on your phone bill, you would be able to easily redirect that money to another purpose. Your power and ability to aggressively meet your financial goals would increase dramatically. Without an effective budget, what is the point of trying to save a few dollars when they disappear anyway. But with an effective budget every dollar counts and is directed exactly where you want it.

Another benefit of allocating every dollar is that your budget will reflect reality more closely. If you have money left over after allocating your needs, that extra money almost always WILL be spent one way or another. If your budget doesn’t reflect that, it doesn’t reflect reality enough to be effective. To eliminate financial stress and a sense of being out of control once and for all you MUST KNOW where your money is being spent. You must TELL IT WHERE TO GO rather than letting it decide.

Using a Zero-Based Budget

A critical tool to help solve these basic budget blunders is the zero-based budget. Now if you’re expecting something flashy, you’ll be disappointed. A zero-based budget simply means that you allocate every dollar of your income so that your income minus your expenses equals “zero.” It’s as simple as that. No special forms or fancy software are necessary. Using a zero-based budget forces you to allocate every dollar and will help your budget more closely reflect reality.

Always track and DEAL WITH the difference between “budgeted” and “actual”

Make sure you follow up at the end of every month and write down what the difference is in each category between what you budgeted and what you actually spent. You then need to deal with that difference. Don’t just look at it and say “oh, there’s a difference. Good to know.” You must either reallocate the money on paper or carry the difference over to your next month’s budget.

For example, if you spent $5 more on your phone bill than you thought (a common occurance since the phone bill tends to be quite variable), you must spend $5 less in another category. One option is to see if you spent $5 less than you thought in another category that month. If so, simply adjust your allocations on paper. If there is no unspent money in your categories then you need to carry that $5 over to the next month and allocate $5 less in a category for your next month’s budget.

Implement a “grease” category

To deal with small instances of overspending, I always budget a “grease” (a.k.a. “blow,” “cushion,” “RealityBites”) category of about $100 that gives me a cushion in dealing with such instances. Since you know you’re going to be wrong (see above) you might as well plan for it. This account acts like the “grease” that keeps the financial gears turning. It picks up my slack. And if I have extra “grease” money left over at the end of the month, it directly gets realocated for something else the next month (often something fun as a little reward).

Putting it all together

I realize that I’ve skipped over many specifics. Implementing some of these concepts may seem a bit confusing at first. If so, no worries. I’ll be addressing specifics in future posts. For now, let me summarize the steps you can take today:

Peery offers advice on how to compensate for these budgeting problems. He pulls ideas from personal finance gurus like Dave Ramsey, as well as self-development folk like Stephen R. Covey and David Allen.

We invest a lot of money in our furniture. So knowing how to clean and care for our upholstery is essential. Here are some general care guidelines to consider before cleaning.

Caring for Upholstery

You can increase the life of upholstery by following a few simple rules:

1. Vacuuming and light brushing on weekly basis helps to eliminate dirt before it becomes embedded in the fibers, causing the fabric to abrade.

2. Turn and reverse loose cushion every week to allow even distribution of wear and tear.

3. Clean spots and stains quickly.

4. If you have a large family, consider using nylon covers for your upholstery. It is long lasting and you can remove most stains easily.

Cleaning Upholstery

Clean your upholstery with an effective cleaner. Choose one that is safe on your fabric and does not contain harsh chemicals to avoid having any sticky remains. Getting a cleaning solution that cleans, remove stains and control odors is a good choice. It saves you time and money.

•Always vacuum or brush your upholstery first to remove dust and loose hair.

•Apply the cleaner and brush firmly any stained areas.

•Wait for one minute or less then wipe away the cleaner with a damp cloth or sponge.

•Keep your upholstery dry while cleaning it to avoid damage. Open a window or use air condition and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Identify Stains

Before trying to remove a stain from your upholstered furniture, you need to know the type of fabric you have. Most manufacturers put cleaning codes on the furniture hangtag or label. These codes tell you the best way to clean and remove stains. Here is a list of those codes:

•WS:fabric may be cleaned with water-based cleaning agents and foams, as well as with mild, water-free dry cleaning solvents.

•W:use water-based cleaning agents or foams only.

•S:use only mild, water-free dry cleaning solvents.

•X:do not use foam or liquid agents on this fabric. You can vacuum or brush lightly to remove soil and grime.

Removing Stains

You should inspect your upholstery for spots and stains and identify your problem areas. Usually a good cleaner can clean and work on removing the stains as well. But for the tough and sticky stains like grease, crayon, gum, and ink, treat the stain first before cleaning. A great option to use is a powerful solvent containing citrus , which break down tough stains easily leaving fresh smell.

•Always pre-treat stains first for color fastness in an inconspicuous area.

•Spray directly on stain and let stand for 30 seconds.

•Scrub with a brush and let is sit for 2 to 4 minutes.

•Clean with a damp sponge or rinse with water. If stain persists, repeat treatment and rewash.

To remove stains from non-washable upholstery, use an effective product made especially for dry cleanable fabrics. It is an excellent pre-treater with a lot of convenience and ease of use. Spray the soiled part and blot immediately from outside to the center, to avoid the clean part from leaving a mark.

Author Vincent Platania represents the Fuller Brush Company.
Fuller Brush has been in business since 1906, and offers safe, environmentally friendly products for keeping your home and your body clean.
Visit http://www.fullerstore.com

Driver's Quiz
Please note that this is a general drivers quiz and may not be applicable to your local area.

Question #2: When you hear the siren or see the red emergency light of a closely approaching ambulance, police vehicle, or fire truck, you must:

Question #3: If you are arrested for drunk driving and refuse to submit to a chemical test of the alcohol content of your blood:

Question #4: What is a general rule for passenger vehicles regarding blind spots for large trucks and buses?

Question #7: If a traffic light is red, but a police officer or firefighter on duty tells you to go ahead, you should:

Question #8: When stopping for any reason along a highway, other than as required by traffic, you should stop:

Question #10: You have a restriction on your license that states "must wear corrective lenses." You lost your glasses the day before. What should you do?

Question #14: The maximum legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level for persons age 18 or older is:

Question #15: When you come to a corner where there is a flashing yellow light, you must:

Question #16: When you follow too closely and another driver cuts suddenly in front of you, what is the best thing to do?

Question #17: Which of the following could best contribute to improved traffic flow?

Question #18: You must always look carefully for motorcycles before you change lanes or make a left turn because they:

Question #19: Carpool lanes are marked with a diamond symbol. To use these lanes during the special hours shown on the signs, you must:

Question #20: A flashing red traffic light at an intersection means that you must:

Correct Answers

Following are five important questions to ask lenders regarding a mortgage loan:

1. Does my loan have a prepayment penalty clause?
This is a biggie that applies to every borrower. Some might be puzzled as to why I included it, since there is a statement about prepayment penalty on the Truth in Lending (TIL) form. Unfortunately, the way the statement is worded is so ambiguous and its placement on the form so distracting that untold numbers of borrowers sign their TIL without ever realizing that they are subject to a penalty. All you must remember is that if the TIL says that you "may have to pay a penalty," it means you will have to pay a penalty.

2. What are total lender fees?
In addition to points, which are an upfront charge expressed as a percent of the loan, lenders also charge a variety of fees that are expressed in dollars—they do not change with the size of the loan. These fees are not disclosed on the TIL. They are shown on the Good Faith Estimate (GFE), which is a separate disclosure document administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, the GFE intermixes lender fees with third-party charges, provides no total and does not commit the lender, since the numbers are "estimates."

When you "lock" the price of the loan, the lender is committed to the rate and points but not to fees. That paves the way for larceny at the closing table. The Federal Reserve could easily prevent this by requiring that all locks apply to the annual percentage rate, which is calculated from the rate and all lender fees. But it doesn't, so borrowers must fend for themselves.

Say to the lender, "please specify, in writing, the total dollar fees I will pay at closing, and sign it." You don't care about the individual fees, only the total matters. Many lenders already do this without being asked, and they all would if shoppers demanded it.

3. What is the margin?
This applies to adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) only. The margin on an ARM is the lender's markup—the amount the lender adds to the interest rate index on a rate adjustment date to obtain the new interest rate. It can be 1.5 percent; it can also be 6.5 percent.

Lenders always quote the initial rate on an ARM, but they seldom quote the margin and it is not a required disclosure. On an increasing number of ARMs, the initial rate holds only for 1-3 months. (This includes all flexible payment or option ARMs and all home equity lines). On these loans, the borrower knows the interest rate for the first few months, but often doesn't know the lender's markup over the remaining 29-plus years. Ask the lender to write down the margin on your ARM.

4. Is this a simple interest loan?
On simple interest loans, interest accrues daily instead of monthly, imposing a stiff penalty on borrowers who pay past the due date. Most of the borrowers who write me about their problems with simple interest loans never knew they had one until the problems emerged. TIL does not require lenders to disclose it.

It is a good idea to ask, but you aren't going to know for sure unless you read the note before signing it at closing, and you may not know even then. I have seen cases where borrowers were switched to simple interest when the servicing of their loan was sold. The new servicer switched all loans where the note did not prohibit it. This is another reason why borrowers should be able to fire their servicing agent.

5. What is your subordination policy?
Very few borrowers who take out a second mortgage are aware that the second mortgage lender can prevent them from refinancing their first mortgage. When the existing first mortgage is repaid, the existing second mortgage automatically becomes the first mortgage—unless the second mortgage lender is willing to subordinate his claim to that of the lender providing the new mortgage into which the borrower is refinancing.

Policies of second mortgage lenders regarding subordination vary all over the lot, from a small fee and no conditions to absolute prohibition. Borrowers taking a second mortgage should get the lender's subordination policy, in writing, before they close the loan.

While every real estate transaction is different, buyers and sellers often fall back on standard negotiating techniques to get to a signed contract both can live with. Understand the dynamics of negotiation so you can stay focused and emotionally detached during a sometimes anxious process.

Do all of your negotiating in writing. It may seem cumbersome, but there are no guarantees with oral agreements or commitments. Avoid discussing terms with the seller or the seller's agent while your offer is on the table.

There are literally hundreds of points that you can negotiate in a real estate transaction. Usually, you'll deal with just a handful when making your offer, such as the standard financing and home inspection contingencies.

Most purchase contracts, especially if they are standard documents, contain boilerplate language that may not fit your situation and may in fact be unfavorable to you. These are areas you need to negotiate carefully. The more you know about the language and art of negotiation, the better the deal you can make for yourself, and the more money you'll save in the process.

Starting low and moving up works best for properties that are overpriced in slow markets. Possible Outcome: Seller rejects outright or counters to get you to increase your offer, and you move up and agree on a price that comes close to what you want to pay.

Offering close to asking price works best for properties that are priced well in active markets. Possible Outcome: Seller may accept outright or counter to get you to increase offer slightly.

Offering the top price you can afford works best in hot markets. Possible Outcome: Seller may reject and you may have to walk away.

Saving terms to bargain works best in situations where seller is highly motivated. Possible Outcome: Seller may trade price concessions for your agreement to close sooner or take charge of repairs after the inspection.

Giving up something to get something works in most situations. Possible Outcome: Seller ends up taking something you don't really want but you asked for initially to gain a lower price or other concession.

Moving in small increments works best for overpriced properties in slow markets. Possible Outcome: Seller may agree to lower price if given time to adjust to the idea.

Focusing on issues you can resolve to keep momentum going works best after several rounds of negotiation. Possible Outcome: Seller and buyer come to terms after resolving easiest issues first.

Being unpredictable works best after several rounds of negotiation. Possible Outcome:Seller accepts your offer after you suddenly make a sizable change.

Making an either/or offer works best after several rounds of negotiation. Possible Outcome: Seller accepts one of two scenarios you offer.

Splitting the difference works best after several rounds of negotiation. Possible Outcome: Seller and buyer settle on price exactly between asking price and offer.

Setting deadlines for action works best in any situation. Possible Outcome: Seller and buyer will act more quickly and decisively if given a time limit.

TIP: In a competitive bidding situation, a seller may try to influence your offer through your agent. If your offer is on the table and you hear from your agent that the seller will accept it if you change a couple of terms, ask for a formal counteroffer before responding. In some states, such as California, a seller can counteroffer with more than one buyer at a time. All states allow a seller to withdraw a counteroffer before it has been accepted by a buyer.

STRETCH CASH, RETIRE

If you've fallen short of your savings or investment goals, you may still be able to retire without compromising your lifestyle. Here are four strategies to consider.

How much do you really need to retire comfortably? In theory, the answer might make you queasy. To start with, many financial planners say you need enough invested to replace about 80% of your current income. On top of that, they say, you should have one to two years’ worth of expenses in cash or cash-equivalent investments like short-term Treasurys and money market funds.

All told, for most people, a $1 million nest egg is a bare minimum, many planners say.

But before you sink your head in your hands and kiss your retirement plans good-bye, here’s the good news: These days, many retirees are proving that reality is quite different than theory.

People are still finding ways to retire: “Most people don’t have the kind of money that planners say you need, especially after a market downturn such as the one we’ve experienced,” says Lynn Ballou, a financial adviser in Lafayette, Calif.

According to the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) in Washington, more than 75% of people aged 40 to 59 have less than $100,000 squirreled away for retirement. “Yet many people are still finding ways to retire,” Ballou says.

Of course, some people have so little socked away that they would have to make serious cutbacks in spending if they retired. And there are those whose retirement funds have been all but washed out — employees at beleaguered companies like Enron, for instance — and who have no choice but to postpone retirement indefinitely.

Yet if you have been diligent about saving but fall somewhat short of your savings target, you may still be able to take the plunge without compromising your lifestyle.

The first step is to be realistic about how much you can expect in income from Social Security and other sources. According to EBRI, almost 20% of retirees say their standard of living is somewhat or much worse than they had expected before they retired.

The primary reason: They had inflated expectations of how much income Social Security would provide. If you’re 50 and earn $75,000 today and expect to retire in 16 years, your annual Social Security benefit would be $35,000 to $40,000 a year. That assumes 3% annual inflation adjustments; in today’s dollars, that amount would be about $21,500.

People who have participated in pension plans can count on just over 40% of their income in retirement coming from Social Security — a portion that would shrink to about 30% under President Bush’s proposed Social Security reforms, according to Gary Burtless, an economist and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

Almost 20% would come from pensions and annuities, according to EBRI. That means 40% of income has to come from investments or other sources.

(That’s if you’ve planned properly. A fact of life in 21st century America is that half the private sector work force is not covered by a pension plan at any given moment and thus could be forced to rely on Social Security.)

So, if you’re trying to figure out how to retire, there are some ways you might be able to make the numbers work. Next week we'll give detailed information on each of these solutions..

If you’re trying to figure out how to retire, there are some ways you might be able to make the numbers work so retirement can happen:

1. Take a part-time job. The most common and increasingly popular way that people are making retirement work is by getting a part-time job. Technically, that means you’re not retired, although many retirees would argue it depends on what your definition of retirement is.

Indeed, some two-thirds of workers say that they plan to work after they retire. Among those, while some will work simply for the enjoyment of it, almost half say they will work to maintain health-insurance coverage and one-third say they need extra cash to make ends meet. Indeed, younger people may find they have to worker longer than they'd like so that they can get full Social Security benefits. If you were born after 1960, the retirement age is 67.

“If you can find a way to keep working without stress and more flexibility, it can make a lot of sense,” Paul Nastasi, a financial planner in Baltimore, Md. says. “We’re seeing a lot of people move to vacation communities where there is a good lifestyle and a lot of service jobs. One spouse will often take a job to support their lifestyles.”

For example, Bob Sertner, 75, of Bondville, Vt., an avid golfer, figured out a way to support his expensive habit after retiring from his interior decoration business. He got a winter job selling ski tickets at Stratton Mountain. The company that owns Stratton, Intrawest Corp., is a giant resort company with golf resorts at desirable spots such as Lake Tahoe, Calif. and Copper Mountain, Colo. Sertner and his wife, Joan, 72, have frequently traveled to these resorts to take advantage of deeply discounted room rates and free rounds of golf for Intrawest employees.

2. Draw down a home-equity loan. If you want to retire in your 50s, or even earlier, cash flow is likely to be a major concern even if you have a fat retirement account. But there’s a creative solution: “You can take out a home equity line of credit to tide you over,” says Lisa Osofsky, a financial planner and CPA at M.R. Weiser in New York City. “One of my clients got laid off at 55 and avoided having to go back to work by taking out a line of credit,” she says.

Granted, to get this kind of security you would need to have substantial equity in your home. But the closer to retirement you get, the more likely you are to have this kind of cushion built up, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging. The agency says some 76% of Americans age 65 or older own their homes outright.

Even if you don’t think you will use it, there’s no harm in establishing a line of credit as security, says Keith Gumbinger, a vice president at HSH Associates, a mortgage data publisher in Butler, N.J. “It’s an excellent idea, assuming you get a competitive rate and you don’t have to pay inactivity fees.”

Competitive rates these days run around 5%. Some lenders require that you pay a $50 to $100 annual fee if you don’t use the line of credit. Be sure to apply for the line of credit while you are still employed to increase your chances of qualifying for a sizable line of credit at a competitive rate, Osofsky says.

3. Replace your mortgage with an interest-only loan. One way to free up extra cash is to refinance your mortgage and take out an interest-only loan. This won’t save you a bundle — possibly a couple hundred of dollars a month, depending on the size of your loan. But that might buy you some extra comfort, either for spending money or so you can continue to sock money into your retirement account, Osofsky says.

With mortgage-interest loans, you only pay interest on the loan for a fixed period of usually up to 10 to 15 years. This reduces your monthly payments, and your full payment would be tax deductible.

For example, on a $200,000 loan with a 30-year fixed rate of 6%, your monthly payment would be about $1,200. According to HSH, an interest-only loan with the same terms would cost you $1,000 a month. The drawback is that interest-only payments won’t help build equity in your home. Plus, says Keith Gumbinger of HSH, “You’re forestalling the inevitable — at some point that home loan has to be paid off.”

4. Move to a less-costly area. Only about 10% of people move after they retire, usually for financial reasons or to seek a milder climate, according to Charles Longino, a gerontologist and demographer at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. But uprooting can pay off in a big way as part of a retirement plan. “Real estate is the most significant asset that most couples have,” Ballou says.

Especially if you live in a hot housing market, you can raise a substantial amount of cash by selling your home and choosing a new and desirable — but less expensive — locale.

Bette and Jim Nordant, of Naples, Fla., are proof that this strategy isn’t just a quick fix to a cash-flow problem, but a long-term planning solution. Ten years ago, when they lived in Alomo, Calif., their financial planner said they needed another $200,000 saved to retire and maintain their lifestyle, Bette says.

They raised the cash practically overnight by selling their home and buying an equivalent home for $200,000 less in Boca Raton, Fla. Soon they sold the house in Boca Raton and moved across the state to Naples. These steps have enabled them to live their ideal retirement, spending half the year in Florida and the other half in the Sierras in California. “We didn’t have to downsize to do this. We found a home of equal quality,” Bette says.

Whether you consider one or more of these strategies to make a comfortable retirement feasible, be sure to start planning early, Ballou says. The more thorough your planning, the more likely it is that you can arrange the kind of retirement you want.

Saving Money on Gas through Fuel

Saving money on gas is not as hard as you may think it is no matter how high the costs are. In fact, most Americans drive an average of 29 miles and may spend somewhere around 55 minutes a day in their cars.

What is cool is that 65 percent of American households actually at least 2 cars. This is cool for the gas companies but can be expensive for the owners. Of course, the War in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina have not helped this.

Gas it an all time high right now and it is driving more sensibly can save you a great deal of money; especially in learning to conserve gas. Aggressive driving, like speeding and reviving the engine and braking to fast, actually wastes gas. Slamming the breaks is also a waste of gas too.

Observing and following the speed limit when you are driving can also help. Gas mileage lowers quickly when you are driving at speeds that are above 60 mph.

Basically for every 5 miles that you drive that exceeds 60 miles per hour it is just like paying an extra 10 cents per gallon. Start by using cruise control which will help you to maintain your speeds.

Also, when you are certain that you are going to be sitting still for a while, don't let your car idle. You actually spend less gas when you turn off your car than in letting sit idling.

The Mattress Question

What are you buying and is it worth it?

Again Consumer Reports to the rescue. I am always pleased when they come out with new reviews (in all areas) especially in sleep products. The focus this past month was the mattress, that big rectangle you end up paying thousands for and continue to ask yourself why!!

In truth, I have started to work with some of these companies and I have learned a bit:

Bottom line: In 7 years your mattress will double in weight due to sweat, dust mites and oil from your skin ( YUCK), so plan to get a new one every 5-7 years and you should be in good shape.

Special Buying tips:

Halloween is fraught with danger, but your little superheroes can stay safe with these tips.

Wizards, witches, and ghouls ... proceed with caution. Halloween is coming. Will you survive it?

"The excitement is ramped up, and kids aren't paying attention," says Tim Givens, MD, a pediatric emergency doctor at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville. "What's most worrisome are the injuries that can happen when they run door-to-door."

Traffic hazards on narrow streets are the biggest problem, Givens tells WebMD. "Parents are dropping kids off around the neighborhood. Kids are running between cars, in front of cars. They're falling and tripping over their costumes. In the dark, it can be very hard to see some of those dark costumes."

Make sure your kids' costumes fit right, he advises. "It's very important that the costumes are safe, that they're not too long or too baggy. Make sure their masks fit right, so they can see. Reflective clothing is also a good idea."

More sage advice: "Walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street," says the American Red Cross. "Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms."

And don't despair. Here are even more tips to help you stay safe -- and still have lots of Halloween fun!

· Apply reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags so kids will be visible in a car's headlights. Hardware, bicycle, and sporting goods stores carry reflective tape.

· Make sure costumes fit the child; if they're too long or baggy, there's risk of tripping and falling.

· Don't let kids wear unsafe shoes (like mom's high heels). Send them out in sturdy shoes that fit right -- another anti-tripping tip.

· Securely tie any hat (witch and other), so it doesn't slip down over the child's eyes.

· Forget the mask this year -- get creative with face paint instead. Too often, a mask can slip, making it difficult for kids to see or even breathe. Make sure you choose face paint that is non-toxic. Check for an allergic reaction before putting it on the child's face.

· If you do buy a mask, make sure it fits well, isn't too big, and has eyeholes large enough to see well.

· Buy flame-retardant costumes, wigs, beards, etc. Look for the Flame Resistant label.

· Don't run from between parked cars. Don't run across yards, as there might be lawn ornaments, furniture, or clotheslines. Walk, don't run, from house to house.

· Use the sidewalk if there is one. Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic, if there is no sidewalk.

· Go only to familiar homes with outdoor lights on. Never enter a stranger's house.

· Toss out any homemade candy or baked goods. If your child is young, toss choking hazards -- gum, peanuts, hard candies, small toys.

· Inspect commercially wrapped candies for possible tampering. Look for unusual appearance, discoloration, tiny pinholes, or wrapper tears.

· Beware pumpkin-carving hazards. Only adults should use knives, says Givens. "The littlest guys (under age 12 or so) shouldn't be pumpkin carving. They can draw the face on the pumpkin or scoop it out, but leave cutting to the adults."

If you're on the giving end of Halloween -- preparing to greet those little wizards and goblins -- there's this advice: "Clear your front yard. Make sure walkways are well lit and porches are clear. Don't leave brooms or rakes where kids can trip over them. And give out healthy stuff as opposed to something that will line dentists' pockets later on," says Givens.

SOURCES: Tim Givens, MD, Pediatric Emergency doctor, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville. American Red Cross: "Health & Safety Tips: Tricks, Treats, Costumes, & Safety." Consumer Product Safety Commission: "Halloween Safety: Safety Alert." National Safety Council: "Halloween Safety." FDA: "Safety Tips for Halloween."

Judging by their behavior, most people have an obsession with wealth. Politicians promise to create it, most popular magazines are filled with gossip about those who have it, and the average person spends much of their adult life trying to obtain it. We are creatures obsessed with money, partly for what it can buy, but also as a thing of value in itself.

But most people misunderstand money. They don't really know how to obtain it, or how to hold onto it once they have it.

If you're interested in getting rich, I'm going to give you the simplest formula for doing so. In fact, if you follow it you're virtually guaranteed to build enough wealth to get you into the top 5% of society. As the shampoo advertisement says: "It won't happen overnight, but it will happen".

The hardest way to get rich
Before I go into my formula, let me tell you about hard ways to get rich.

One of the hardest is to be born into it. Of course, if you happen to enter this world as a Hilton, a Gates or a Windsor, then life is sweet. But since 99.9999% of the population aren't that lucky, I'm assuming you didn't win that particular lottery.

And speaking of lotteries, gambling is another very difficult way to get rich. Sure, some people buy a lottery ticket and win big, but most don't. You can gamble your entire life and you'll most likely end up broke rather than wealthy.

When I was younger, I thought the easiest way to get rich was to become famous through some kind of creative act. Stephen King got rich writing horror novels, so why not me?

I'm now much wiser and realize that the vast majority of novelists never even get published. Of those who do, most wallow in obscurity. Only very few make it anywhere near the best-seller list, and only one in a million will achieve any kind of serious wealth.

The same fate awaits the majority of musicians, software company founders, sportspeople and website creator. For every Google that makes its owners billions, there are a million websites that lose money. Creativity is the most fun and rewarding way to get rich, but it's also a very difficult way.

The reason the media raves about and idolizes those who've built wealth through creativity is because they're so rare. You don't hear about the vast majority who wallow in obscurity and poor pay, because they're not interesting. "Young genius makes $1 billion from website" is a great headline "Ten thousand young geniuses make nothing from their hard work" isn't.

I'm not saying you shouldn't keep your dreams alive. It's one of the best parts of life. But this article isn't about the most fun way to try and get rich - it's about the easiest way.

Okay, here's the system.

Step 1: Get a well-paid job
This is a reasonable amount of work, and takes a few years, but it's a virtually guaranteed way to make a good income. If they're willing to put in the work, almost any intelligent person can get a job paying $100,000 or more within the space of a few years. While it's not easy, it is by far the easiest and most likely way to secure a good income. In fact, I've already written an entire article on how to get a job paying more than $100,000 a year for those who wish to pursue this avenue.

Step 2: Get good tax advice
However you make your money, your number one expense is likely to be funding the government. In most developed countries, the average worker pays around 30% of everything they earn straight into the taxman's pocket. If you've taken my job advice, you'll most likely pay even more than that.

While taxation is necessary to fund the good things governments provide, you don't do yourself any favors by paying more than your fair share. If you're serious about building wealth, get a good accountant who understands how to legally minimize your tax bill.

Step 3: Save 20% of everything you ever earn
As soon as you get paid, arrange to have 20% of your income removed into a savings account. Many banks can do this automatically for you. Keep your savings account separate from your spending account, and you'll barely miss this money.

There's a saying in economics "expenses rise to meet income". This means money that's easily available to you is certain to be spent. That's why most people's paychecks disappear before their next payday. They get used to having a certain amount to spend, and habitually run down their bank account.

Have your savings moved somewhere it's a hassle to get them out of to avoid this risk. Many high interest accounts require you to give them a few days notice, which is ideal for this purpose.

Step 4: Conservatively invest the funds that build up in your savings account
Once a month, go into your savings account and divide the money by investing it into the three core conservative assets: shares, property and cash. Open a mutual fund account for shares, a property fund for property, and a money market fund for cash. Look for share and property funds that invest in a broad range of assets and most importantly charge very low fees. An index fund is ideal for the shares. An index of property funds is ideal for property.

Put an equal amount into each account. This will diversify you against risk in any one particular asset. If you're younger, this rule is a little bit flexible, allowing you to take a little more risk and put more into shares and property if you like.

Step 5: Reinvest any income you get from your assets straight back into buying more assets
Mutual funds and property funds pay dividends. Money market accounts pay interest. Don't take this income into your spending account. Instead, select the option to have it reinvested into the fund that generated it.

Step 6: Never touch these funds and do your best to ignore them
The business press, like the mainstream press, loves a crisis. "Shares to skyrocket" or "Property to plummet" headlines will sell many more copies than "Things to continue steadily". All markets go up and down. Every day, some speculation will be published about some crisis or opportunity.

Ignore it all.

Just keep putting the 20% into your assets. Sometimes they'll go up and sometimes they'll go down in value. But over the long term, they'll almost certainly go up.

Step 7: Wait a decade
Do what I've outlined above and in a decade you'll be rich. Sure, you won't be Bill Gates, but you'll almost certainly be in the top 20% of wealth holders. Wait another decade and you'll be in the top 5% or higher.

That's the plan. It's not the most exciting or glamourous way to build wealth, but it's the easiest. Quite simply, this is how most rich people got there.

You too can join them, if you follow it.

http://www.paulstips.com/brainbox/pt/home.nsf/link/15102006-The-easiest-way-to-get-rich

Free, Creative Halloween Costume Ideas

Halloween will be here before you know it. Have you figured out what your Halloween costume will be?

If you have your Halloween costume picked out already, share your idea with everyone using this form! If you are still trying to find a Halloween costume, give some of these creative ideas a try; find easy and inexpensive homemade costumes for everyone!

You can make costumes out of a variety of items you may already have at home:

You can also select a costume to make based on how it is made.

I have two different listings:

If you prefer to browse through all the costume ideas by theme:

If you need more than one costume, consider some of these suggestions:

Finally, if you have your costume picked out, but a need to add a special finishing touch, try some of these:

For much more Halloween fun, such as Halloween crafts, recipes, games, and other activities, make sure you check out this Halloween Index.

Posted: 12 Oct 2006 07:00 AM CDT

Every time I get my hair cut, I’m faced with a dilemma — should I tip the barber or not? I usually get my hair cut in a small-town shop. I tip $2 on a $12 haircut. If I get to hear stories about Vietnam or histrionic political rants, I tip $3, even if I don’t agree with the barber’s viewpoints. (I tip because I’ve been entertained.) Sometimes, if I don’t have enough cash, I don’t leave a anything at all. Are these tips appropriate?

What about when I pick up Chinese takeout? Should I have tipped the guys who delivered our new gas range last fall? What about a hotel bellhop? A parking valet? Out of curiosity, I did some research on tipping practices in the United States. There’s actually significant disagreement about how much to tip for even common services.

For example, you know you should tip your waitress. But how much should you leave? Some people claim that 10% is adequate. Others claim that 20% is standard. But I suspect that most of us learned to tip 15%, and to give more for exceptional service. (The wikipedia entry on tipping currently contains the bizarre claim that “18% is generally accepted as a standard tip for good service”.) Which amount is correct?

After browsing dozens of pages, I drafted the following guide. The amounts listed are based on averages or on consensus, when possible.

Food Service

Barista

No tip required, though many suggest throwing coins into the tip jar.

Bartender

$1/drink (or 15% of total bill). Pre-tip for better service.

Delivery person (including pizza)

10%, $2 minimum (also, also)

Maitre d’

$5-$25 for special efforts

Takeout

No tip required unless something special is done (also, also)

Waiter

15% for adequate service, 20% for exceptional service. For poor service, leave 10% or less. It’s okay to leave nothing for exceptionally poor service, but only if you’re sure it’s the waiter’s fault.

Hotel Staff

Bellman/Porter

$1 to $2 per bag, $5 minimum. (Or, just as many places say $1 bag, $2 minimum.)

Concierge

$5-$20 depending on the service. $20 if he does something exceptional. Nothing for directions.

Housekeeper

$2 to $5 per night, paid daily or as a lump sum at checkout. (Most sites suggest you tip daily.)

Parking Valet

A wide range of opinions. Everyone agrees that you should pay when your car is retrieved. Some say to pay when it’s parked, too. Most sites say to tip $2, though some suggest $5.

Room service

$5 minimum

Travel

Bus driver (not mass transit)

$1 to $2, if she handles luggage

Cab driver

10%, $2-$5 minimum

Chauffeur

10-15%

Gas station attendant

Nothing. Or $2-$4. There’s no agreement. (I’ve never seen anyone tip a gas station attendant ever.)

Porter/skycap

$1 per bag. $2 for heavy items, or if porter brings luggage to counter.

Personal service

Barber/Hairstylist

Again, little agreement: 10-15%, 15-20%, etc. One person recommends $5 to each individual who shampoos or blow-dries your hair! (also)

Manicurist

15%

Spa service

15-20%

Masseuse

10-15%

Shoe-shiner

$2 or $3

Other

Building superintendent

Varies —read more.

Coat checker

Most sites recommend $1 per coat, though one said $2 to $5 upon retrieval.

Furniture deliverer

It depends. Most of the time $5-$20. Some recommend simply offering cold drinks. (also)

Grocery store bagger

One site recommended $1-$3, though I’ve never seen one tipped in my life.

Mover

$10-$25 per person (also)

What about tipping at holidays? Tipping service people with whom you have regular contact can build goodwill. I found these recommendations:

Holiday Tips

Unwarranted: Why You Should Avoid Extended Warranties

A Get Rich Slowly reader pointed to a Washington Post article about extended warranties. “Unwarranted” discusses the psychological reasons consumers buy these products, explores industry profitability, and emphasizes that most experts recommend against purchasing extended service contracts.

The decision to buy an extended warranty […] defies the recommendations of economists, consumer advocates and product quality experts, who all warn that the plans rarely benefit consumers and are nearly always a waste of money.

“The things make no rational sense,” Harvard economist David Cutler said. “The implied probability that [a product] will break has to be substantially greater than the risk that you can’t afford to fix it or replace it. If you’re buying a $400 item, for the overwhelming number of consumers that level of spending is not a risk you need to insure under any circumstances.”

According to the article, $15 billion in premiums was charged to U.S. consumers in 2004, of which $7.5 billion went to the stores who sell the warranties. About $3 billion was paid in claims against plans. Only $20 every $100 spent on extended warranties is paid in claims. By comparison, the American auto insurance industry pays $66 in claims for every $100 in premiums.

Reading the latest issue of Consumer Reports — the annual electronics issue — I noticed that it nearly always recommended purchasing an extended warranty. (The magazine recommends extended warranties on Apple products ~~— which only provide 90 days of support —~~ and “for refurbished computers of any brand with less than a one-year warranty”.) Some experts also recommend extended warranties on bulky LCD or plasma televisions.

Obviously, it’s the consumer’s choice whether or not to purchase an extended warranty. For some, the peace of mind is worth the cost. But most people don’t understand how poor a financial decision an extended warranty usually is.

BBC News explains a few basic principles to help you decide which type of mortgage deal suits you best.

Mortgages should be straightforward - you borrow money to buy a house and pay interest on the loan.

In a hugely competitive market, building societies and banks are continually updating and extending their range of mortgages. The list is already extensive enough to baffle all but the most determined.

The most important points are how you pay back the capital you borrow and how you pay the interest on it.

You can either pay a little at a time as you go (repayment mortgage) or pay it all off at the end (Endowment, Isa and pension mortgages).

· Repayment mortgages - Each monthly payment pays off a little of the underlying debt, as well as interest on the loan. At the end of the term the mortgage is cleared.

· Endowment Mortgages - You use an endowment policy to provide life insurance and save funds to repay the loan at the end of the term (usually 20-25 years). If the investment performs badly, you could face a shortfall on your loan at the end of the repayment period.

· Individual Savings Account (Isa) mortgages - These work on the same principle as endowments, but use an Individual Savings Account as the loan repayment method. If your investment performs badly you could face a shortfall at the end of the mortgage term.

· Pension mortgages - Are similar to both ISA and endowment mortgages, but work on the basis that pensions (both private and company) provide tax-free cash on retirement. At the end of the mortgage term the loan is paid out of your tax-free lump sum. They are not often used as it can be risky linking pensions to other investments.

You have to pay interest on any debt, and mortgages are no different. They differ only in the range of options offered.

· Variable rates - This means you pay the going rate on your loan. The mortgage rate changes every time interest rates change or, as in most cases, the overall effect of any interest rate changes is calculated once a year and payments are altered accordingly. Whatever kind of mortgage you start with, it is likely to change to variable rates at some point.

· Fixed rates - The interest rate is fixed for the period agreed - often two to five years. These are ideal for budgeting or if you think rates might increase. You do not benefit if rates fall, and will face penalties if you try to quit. Very low rates may tempt you, but they can be used to trap you into paying over the odds. See check how long you will have to stay with the lender before you can switch without penalty.

· Capped rates - These are fixed, but if rates fall you pay the lower rate. Such deals can be a good buy for budgeting.

· Cash back deals - This is when lenders offer money back if you take out a particular product.

· Discounted rates - Under this type of mortgage the borrower is offered a discount off the lender's variable rate. The rate paid will fluctuate in line with changes in the variable rate. The discount applies over a set term.

The government has given homebuyers a list of vital checks to help them find their way through the mortgage maze.

The government suggests buyers should ask these 10 questions before agreeing a mortgage with a lender.

The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.

How to Avoid Getting Pulled Over for Speeding

Nobody enjoys seeing the red and blue lights telling them to pull over. Getting pulled over for speeding always seems to happen at the worst time. You're running late for one reason or another and the last thing you need is another delay, especially a delay with a fine on top of it. The thing that most speeders don't realize is that there are plenty of ways to limit your risk of getting a ticket while speeding. While we definitely don't advocate poor or dangerous driving, we do realize there are often legitimate reasons you are speeding, and that a lot of speeders are also good drivers who would never intentionally put other people at risk.

There are several ways to avoiding both getting pulled over and getting a ticket once you've already been pulled over (which you can find more about tomorrow @ www.desinc.net). None are fail safe, but all of these tips will decrease your odds of getting a ticket significantly:

1) Stay alert! If you are going to speed, you need to be much more aware than everyone else on the road typically is. Not only do you need to pay more attention to what other drivers are doing for your safety and theirs, but you also need to WATCH for police. They have very predictable hiding spots, the most common of which on a freeway is the on ramp. Every on ramp you go by, especially ones that have less traffic, you should glance over your shoulder and look for a hiding patrol car. If you see one, don't panic and slam on your brakes! This will not only put you in danger of a crash, but it will make you quite noticeable to the officer, especially if your tires squeal or you lose control. Instead, immediately release the gas petal and downshift (take off overdrive if you're in an automatic). This will drop your speed rapidly, but not nearly as noticeably to the officer, and usually he will be looking ahead of him rather than to his side where you are. The same goes for a cop you notice coming up on you in traffic. Be aware of the cars both in front and behind you. If you see a car approach rapidly from afar and then disappear into the slower lanes, make sure it wasn't a cop. This is a very typical maneuver because they are betting you were not paying attention and they are then able to sneak up on you without you slowing down. I always play it safe and slow down when someone rapidly comes up on me while I'm speeding. Even if it is not a cop, it will be to your advantage to let the speeder who wants to drive much faster than you go by. Hopefully they will catch any speed traps up ahead and let you sail on by.

2) Get to know what Police headlights look like in your rear view mirror. They are very distinct and this skill can help you be a lot safer from tickets at night. I find the best way to learn what they look like is to stay more alert when you are not speeding and 'guess' which ones are police, you will get better and better over time. Remember police often use a few different types of cars and may differ state to state. The most common and easiest to spot are the infamous "Crown Victoria Interceptors". Also be aware that motorcycle cops often travel in pairs and are trained to ride side by side to intentionally look like a large truck or SUV to the speeder looking in the rear view mirror.

3) Get a radar detector. They are worth every penny to the speeder who travels a lot. I have a very nice "Escort Passport 8500 X50" and recommend it to everyone! It is a wonderful detector and has saved myself and friends easily 10 times it's cost in tickets. It can give you a very early warning for all bands of radar and even can help you out with laser as well. You can pick one of these units up for about $300.00 retail. I HIGHLY recommend the Escort Passport 8500 series or the Valentine One radar detectors. They are far superior to the cheapo $50-100 detectors that you see. If you really can't afford the Escort or Valentine One, most cheap detectors will at least give you a little warning when police are about and using their radar frivolously. While the radar detector is a wonderful device that can help you to avoid tickets, it is absolutely imperative that you do not rely on it 100%. Most radar detector users gradually become careless with my other tips and still get tickets. You need to take ALL of these tips into consideration and use them all together to successfully avoid tickets.

4) Trust your gut. When you feel like it's a good idea to slow down, do it! I've found that my "hunches" that a police officer is around are often founded and save me tickets when I listen to them. A true ticket-avoiding speeder will develop a strong sense of when and where police are and should always trust this spider sense.

5) There may be a local news channel that displays where the police will be setting up speed traps for the day. See if you can catch the news in the morning before you go speeding to work and just avoid the area they are setting up. If your local news doesn't give you this information or you miss it, expect to be traveling at the speed limit and give yourself enough time to compensate.

6) If you have a friend you expect might be traveling in the area you spot a speed trap, give them a call. This could save your friend a ticket, and hopefully they will do the same for you next time they spot a speed trap where you might be headed. Many of my lead-footed friends will give me a call if they spot speed traps on my usual routes, and I do the same for them.

7) If you are certain a cop has spotted you and will be turning around to come after you, you have two choices. First, you can slow down to just above the speed limit and drive very safely until you get pulled over. It will usually at least limit the ticket you receive, if not completely avoid it. Or, if you really think you could be in trouble (going in excess of 30 over the speed limit and you think he has a radar of it, or he could legitimately claim you were recklessly driving), you should speed up as much as reasonable and get off the road at the next area you know. Once you get off the main road find a reasonable hiding spot such as an empty driveway, turn off your car and duck. Be very careful to not step on or hit your brake petal as it will turn the brake lights on even if the car is off and make sure you didn't kick up lots of dust pulling in. If you can't find a good hiding spot, or if you know some back roads, it is reasonable to just take them to another area that you don't expect the police will follow you to. Be wary of this option though. I have done this and found that I angered the officer enough for him to speed around an entire neighborhood until he spotted me miles away from where he originally got a radar on me. However, I got lucky and the client I was visiting was drunk, irate, and screaming at the police officer who was driving around the neighborhood at 80-90MPH. The police officer didn't want to deal with the drunkard and was in the wrong driving near schools at such a high rate of speed. He scolded me with his finger, but didn't stop. I got lucky, but realized that it may not be the best thing to avoid an officer unless you are certain you can get away.

A Cleaner Kitchen in 5 Easy Steps

A squeaky clean kitchen is not always easy to achieve, but the results can help give you a refreshed perspective on your home and family. Plus maintaining a clean kitchen doesn't have to keep you trapped inside a pit of despair every moment of the day. Here are a few steps that can help you keep a brighter, more sparkling kitchen in the shortest amount of time possible.

1. The first step in a clean, organized kitchen is to have a place for everything, and then to have everything in its place. If you have items that just lie out on your counters, make it a point to find a specific home for them (besides right out on the counter - that is). You should be able to look at your counter and KNOW that every item has a specific home.

2. The next step in keeping up with your clean kitchen is to reduce the amount of excess mess and clutter. Make a note of any clutter "problem" spots, and then take a quick minute (every day) to clear away those specific areas.

Another tip for keeping a cleaner kitchen is to create an organized "to do" center in one corner of the kitchen. In this area you want to place your mail, your keys, and any immediate to do lists you need to accomplish within the next 48-72 hours. You want to design this area so that it is attractive and doesn't look like it's full of clutter. You might even design it so that you can move it, or cover it quickly, in case company drops in unannounced.

3. The kitchen sink is undoubtedly one of the hardest spots to keep maintained. A great goal is to keep the sink clean and free of dishes everyday. Try and throw as many dishes in the dishwasher at the end of the night, as you can. Then run the washer. After you empty the sink, take thirty seconds to scrub the sink. If you clean the sink until it sparkles, it tends to inspire you to keep the rest of the kitchen cleaner.

4. The refrigerator is another pesky trouble spot that many of us hate to clean. A great plan is to try and go through the fridge one time every week and get rid of anything that is out-of-date. Another quick option for keeping the fridge clean is to use liners for your refrigerator shelves. You can remove them quickly and this will cut your wiping time down.

5. Finally, a great idea is to take two minutes every day to sweep the kitchen floor. Getting those nasty, crunchy crumbs and other messes out from under your feet will go a long way in keeping your motivated to do a thorough mop every once in a while.

So these are just a couple of quick steps you can use to keep your kitchen clean and enjoyable on a daily basis. Of course you need a detailed battle plan to really maintain your kitchen the way you want. But don't give up on your goal of a clean kitchen, if you can make the decision to spend just a couple of minutes every day doing these, you will have more satisfaction and enjoyment in one of the most used rooms in your home.

Kitchen Organizing 101: A Recipe for Organizational Success

There is no doubt that these days the hub of the home is the kitchen. It is the place we gather to spend time with family and friends. Many of us do our main entertaining in an open floor plan that has a kitchen/family-room combination. As a result, the kitchen has become the most difficult room in the house to keep clean. Our usual organizational challenges of overflowing cabinets and exploding junk drawers are compounded by mail, toys, clothes and all sorts of clutter. If your kitchen could use some help getting organized, try this recipe for organizational success.

Start by creating an organizational plan. Establish stations within your kitchen just like a restaurant does: prep area, cooking, baking and cleaning. Organize your kitchen into these four quadrants by keeping related items together in the same area.

Break the job down into sections. Try to finish one section per day. Don't let the size of the job overwhelm you. Take it one small step at a time. Before you know it you will have finished. As the saying goes, "How do you eat an elephant? You eat it one bite at a time."

Your storage solutions don't have to be expensive. Check the dollar stores for plastic bins, baskets and containers. Check stores that carry overstocks, closeouts and slightly dented items for great deals on storage racks and freestanding units.

Find creative ways to reuse items you already own. Try this inexpensive storage solution for spice bottles: cover the bottom half of a shoebox with the same contact paper you used on your shelves. Fill the box with your spices and set it inside your cabinet for easy "pull-out retrieval". If you are short on cabinet space but have plenty of wall space, try using an old bureau to store canned goods, towels or extra dishes and cookware.

Don't forget to "nest" items inside one another. For example pots of graduating sizes can sometimes be fit one inside the other.

Get rid of what is old or that you don't use. Toss expired herbs, yeast and baking powder. If you can't remember the last time you used some of your cooking gadgets, why not send them off to a new home where they will be appreciated. Make a vow to not bring in any more small appliances, gadgets or knick knacks. Clear off the counters and decide what really needs to be out. If an item has no use in the kitchen it needs to be put somewhere else. Bag or box the items to be dumped, donated or given to a friend.

Clean out one cabinet at a time. Wipe down the shelves. Clear and wipe down countertops. If you have tile, now is a good time to clean the grout with a degreasing solution. Replace tattered dishtowels. Replace torn or worn shelf paper. Clean out the inside and outside of the refrigerator. Clean the oven. Don't forget to clean the top of the range and the knobs. Dust the ceiling fan. Dust the top of your cabinets and refrigerator.

Every item needs its own home. When items have a designated place they tend to get put away. If they don't have a home then they tend to get lost.

Utilize bins and baskets wherever possible to keep "like things" together and at easily accessible. Go vertical. The important concept here is that any time you use vertical space it will free up horizontal space. Utilize the empty vertical wall space in a nearby closet by installing shelves that can be used to store canned goods. Install hanging broom and mop holders. Employ hooks, pegboards, and Lazy Susans. If your counter space is at a premium, see if you can mount some of your small

Organize your kitchen for maximum efficiency. Place items near each other if they will be used together. For example: if your coffee maker sits on the counter, store the coffee cups, cream and sugar in the cabinet above it.

Once you have spent all that time organizing your kitchen, you'll want to make sure that the clutter stays out. Set some time aside once a month to check for clutter buildup. Also spend a few minutes each night putting away anything that doesn't belong in the kitchen. Nip that clutter in the bud before it takes root.

If you hadn't already noticed, the first letter of each rule spells out the word kitchen. It's a handy little way for you to remember each rule.

About the Author:
Martha Matthews is the Editor of Christian-Homemaking.com, a web site with resources dedicated to Christian homemaking. She also has a popular free monthly newsletter for Christian wives called The Wives of Excellence Newsletter. To subscribe send a blank email to: wivesofexcellence-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Or visit: http://www.christian-homemaking.com

Bedroom Fire Safety Tips Protect your Family

(ARA) - Every year more than 700 lives are lost and 5,000 people are injured in bedroom blazes, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Unprotected mattresses are not designed to help control the outbreak from open-flame fire sources such as candles, matches, and sparks from electrical outlets and lighters.

In less than five minutes, most mattresses, when ignited, can reach what fire officials call "flashover" temperatures (around 900 degrees F). Flashover generates enough heat to ignite an entire room at once, and forces smoke and fire throughout the rest of the house. To prevent bedroom fires and keep you and your family safe, here are some critical tips to keep in mind:

For additional information on Serta's FireBlocker technology, please visit www.serta.com or contact a Serta retailer near you.

Frugal Ethics - When Frugal Becomes Just Plain Cheap

There are times when it's tempting to lie, steal or break one of the other 10 Commandments to get a good deal but, in living frugally, we all need to stick to being honest. This is not always easy to do, but I want to give some examples that may help you stay honest. Here are some common tactics that some people use that are unethical and sometimes illegal:

You need some pens because you are running short so you take a handful from a store that is giving them out. This is stealing. If you take one, that's fine. Unless they tell you to take them all, it is tacky to take a large number of them. They're offering them simply as a courtesy.

You buy an item and you use it a few times and then return it because you're done with it. Stealing and lying. You probably won't tell the sales clerk you just needed to use it for a few times and even if you do, that's only OK if it is a rental store. If an item breaks, doesn't work or is not the right color, it is fine to return it. If you just needed it "for a few times" (like a dress for a special occasion) and know you won't use it again, you're stealing if you return it.

If you eat a food item with a guarantee on the box and it tastes nasty, return it. That's why they offer a guarantee. If you eat the entire contents of the box first and return the mostly-empty box, it probably wasn't actually nasty.

If you try to pass off your 14 year old child as a 12 year old so that you only have to pay for a child's meal, you are lying and teaching your child that lying is good when it benefits you.

If you find a "great deal" that you can't live without but you don't have the money in your checking account, don't write a check. Let it be the "one that got away" If you knowingly write a bad check, you are stealing and lying.

If you find a "great deal", buy it and then hide it from your husband, you're lying (unless it's his birthday present ;-). If you have to hide it, you know you're doing something wrong.

If you charge up your credit cards with frivolous things like shopping and eating out and then declare bankruptcy, you are stealing from the credit card company and from everyone who does business with that company. Bankruptcy is intended to help people who end up financially strapped because of reasons beyond their control, like catastrophic medical expenses or the death of a spouse. It is unethical to declare bankruptcy because you went on a shopping spree, because you bought something you couldn't afford when you bought it or because you decided to change careers and no longer want to pay the student loans for your old career. You signed that piece of paper when you purchased the item saying you would pay them back and you didn't. It's up to you to pay them back any (legal :-) way you can, even if it does mean feeling "deprived" for a time.

One more thing about bankruptcy: It is unethical to incur lots of debt "keeping up with the Joneses" and then go bankrupt because the debt is so large. Many people look at others and say to themselves, "Those people are the same age as me. I work hard. I deserve that too." or "our house is too small" or "our car is a real clunker so we need to buy a brand need one to "save" on repair costs ( a huge myth, by the way!). If you can afford these things, by all means, buy them. If you can't afford those things, find a way to make more money or learn to be happy with what you have.

Frugal living is about making good financial decisions. There are so many things you can do to spend your money more wisely, so when you think you can get a "good deal", but it requires doing something that hurts someone else, pass it up.

Whenever you're in doubt about whether something is ethical, ask yourself if it would be OK with you if the situation were reversed and you were the person potentially coming up short. Be honest. We've all heard "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." If you would object to others doing it to you, you better look for a better way to save.

Tawra Kellam is the editor of LivingOnADime.com. Tawra and her husband paid off $20,000 debt in 5 years on $22,000 a year income.

Read This Before Getting a New Cellular Phone

It seems like these days, there are a million and one different cellular phones and service plans on the market all claiming to be the BEST. How in world do you decide on which one to signup with?

Many people sign up for a $60 a month service plan, but only end up using about 20% of the allocated minutes! Others, sign up for "across the country" plans costing $150 a month, but rarely travel outside their own state!!

Today, you can typically find quite a number of local providers offering a wide variety of services to both individuals and businesses alike. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your cellular phone experience.

The most valuable advice that mostly everyone forgets to take into consideration is the "friend factor".

More than likely, you have a few friends, family members, neighbors who have cellular phones. The best way to learn about their particular phone and service provider is to simply ask them. Within minutes, you can find out how well they like their phone, service provider, and most importantly the reception and clarity of calls.

Reception is THE MOST IMPORTANT factor to consider. For those of you familiar with cell phone static, garbled noise, echoing voices, and dropped calls, I think you'll agree these annoyances will make your cell phone experience miserable.

EVEN IF you have the BEST phone, with the MOST minutes, for the CHEAPEST price, if you are NOT with a company that provides a solid clear reception for both incoming and outgoing calls, you will be VERY disappointed and angry since you probably signed a 1 2 year contract.

Take my word for it. I have been with four different service providers over the past five years and the ONLY reason I kept switching was due to my unsatisfaction with the reception. It wasn't due to a lack of phone features, or even minutes provided, that can always be adjusted later or solved with the purchase of a higher end, more expensive phone. It ALL came down to the clarity of my cell phone calls, both incoming and outgoing.

Trust me, the first time you can't understand, or unexpectantly lose an important phone call, you'll remember this article and say "That guy from SavingSecrets.com told me about this!"

What can you do to educate yourself about cellular service? Talk to anyone you know who owns a cell phone. This is my best advice. Simply approach this topic by saying:

"Hey, I'm planning on getting a cell phone soon, but I'm a little unsure of which service provider to sign up with. There are so many options out there, I want to make sure I do my research before signing a lengthy contract. Could you tell me a little about your phone and service provider, and please be brutally honest."

Personally, I recommend speaking to at least ten different people so you not only hear different opinions, but you can compare notes and see if you can find any consistencies amongst phones/providers.

Before you decide on a company/policy that best suits your needs, you MUST determine what type of cell phone 'user' you'll be. This will save you money month after month.

Take a moment to reflect on when you will be using your phone the most. Is your cell phone for business purposes? For personal use? Just on the weekends? What time of the day will you use the phone most?

Know the answers to these questions before signing any type of cellular phone service agreement. It will help guarantee you get the best deal for your mone

The Complete List In Alphabetical Order PRINT A - B The Adventures of Augie March Saul Bellow All the King's Men Robert Penn Warren Read the Original Review American Pastoral Philip Roth Read the Original Review An American Tragedy Theodore Dreiser Animal Farm George Orwell Read the Original Review Appointment in Samarra John O'Hara Read the Original Review Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Judy Blume The Assistant Bernard Malamud Read the Original Review At Swim-Two-Birds Flann O'Brien Atonement Ian McEwan Read the Original Review Beloved Toni Morrison Read the Original Review The Berlin Stories Christopher Isherwood Read the Original Review The Big Sleep Raymond Chandler Read the Original Review The Blind Assassin Margaret Atwood Read the Original Review Blood Meridian Cormac McCarthy Brideshead Revisited Evelyn Waugh Read the Original Review The Bridge of San Luis Rey Thornton Wilder Read the Original Review C - D Call It Sleep Henry Roth Read the Original Review Catch-22 Joseph Heller Read the Original Review The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger Read the Original Review A Clockwork Orange Anthony Burgess Read the Original Review The Confessions of Nat Turner William Styron Read the Original Review The Corrections Jonathan Franzen Read the Original Review The Crying of Lot 49 Thomas Pynchon Read the Original Review A Dance to the Music of Time Anthony Powell Read the Original Review The Day of the Locust Nathanael West Read the Original Review Death Comes for the Archbishop Willa Cather A Death in the Family James Agee The Death of the Heart Elizabeth Bowen Read the Original Review Deliverance James Dickey Read the Original Review Dog Soldiers Robert Stone Read the Original Review F - G Falconer John Cheever Read the Original Review The French Lieutenant's Woman John Fowles Read the Original Review The Golden Notebook Doris Lessing Read the Original Review Go Tell it on the Mountain James Baldwin Read the Original Review Gone With the Wind Margaret Mitchell Read the Original Review The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck Read the Original Review Gravity's Rainbow Thomas Pynchon Read the Original Review The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald Read the Original Review H - I A Handful of Dust Evelyn Waugh Read the Original Review The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers Read the Original Review The Heart of the Matter Graham Greene Herzog Saul Bellow Read the Original Review Housekeeping Marilynne Robinson Read the Original Review A House for Mr. Biswas V.S. Naipaul Read the Original Review I, Claudius Robert Graves Read the Original Review Infinite Jest David Foster Wallace Read the Original Review Invisible Man Ralph Ellison Read the Original Review		L - N Light in August William Faulkner Read the Original Review The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis Lolita Vladimir Nabokov Read the Original Review Lord of the Flies William Golding The Lord of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkien Read the Original Review Loving Henry Green Read the Original Review Lucky Jim Kingsley Amis Read the Original Review The Man Who Loved Children Christina Stead Read the Original Review Midnight's Children Salman Rushdie Money Martin Amis Read the Original Review The Moviegoer Walker Percy Read the Original Review Mrs. Dalloway Virginia Woolf Naked Lunch William Burroughs Read the Original Review Native Son Richard Wright Read the Original Review Neuromancer William Gibson Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro Read the Original Review 1984 George Orwell Read the Original Review O - R On the Road Jack Kerouac Read the Original Review One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Ken Kesey Read the Original Review The Painted Bird Jerzy Kosinski Pale Fire Vladimir Nabokov Read the Original Review A Passage to India E.M. Forster Play It As It Lays Joan Didion Portnoy's Complaint Philip Roth Read the Original Review Possession A.S. Byatt Read the Original Review The Power and the Glory Graham Greene The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Muriel Spark Read the Original Review Rabbit, Run John Updike Read the Original Review Ragtime E.L. Doctorow Read the Original Review The Recognitions William Gaddis Read the Original Review Red Harvest Dashiell Hammett Revolutionary Road Richard Yates S - T The Sheltering Sky Paul Bowles Read the Original Review Slaughterhouse-Five Kurt Vonnegut Read the Original Review Snow Crash Neal Stephenson The Sot-Weed Factor John Barth The Sound and the Fury William Faulkner The Sportswriter Richard Ford Read the Original Review The Spy Who Came in From the Cold John le Carre Read the Original Review The Sun Also Rises Ernest Hemingway Read the Original Review Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston Read the Original Review Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee Read the Original Review To the Lighthouse Virginia Woolf Read the Original Review Tropic of Cancer Henry Miller Read the Original Review U - W Ubik Philip K. Dick Under the Net Iris Murdoch Under the Volcano Malcolm Lowry Read the Original Review Watchmen Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons White Noise Don DeLillo Read the Original Review White Teeth Zadie Smith Read the Original Review Wide Sargasso Sea Jean Rhys