Del Mar Neighborhoods United

Consumer, Ecological & Environmental Help:

May 04, 2009

(FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE CONTENT, REF. 2 ARTICLE(S))

Alley Lighting Program

Don't Skimp on These Things; Ways to Save Instead!

How to Save Money on Your Monthly Tech Bills, by Dan Reilly, posted 10/16/08:

Getting a green mortgage

5 Ways to Boost Home Value

5 Things you meed to know about Stopping junk mail
Mary Forsell, 3/9/2008, USA Weekend.com

You Probably Don't Need This

Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

HDTV (High Definition Television) is here today, and it's FREE!

Solar Rewards Program

Fighting Back Against Identity Theft

Getting a green mortgage

5 Things you meed to know about Stopping junk mail

10 Insurance Policies to Avoid

Two little-known Google freebees to make your life better

Top 5ive Ways You're Wasting Your Money

Secrets for Hiding Your Flab

Good (Enough) Housekeeping

Homeless & Loving it. Home is where the backpack(s) are!!

Do-it-yourself: Stop junk mail, email and phone calls

The Many Uses of Vinegar

Solar Panel Kit

Hanging Tough (clotheslines)

Do-it-yourself route best for dealing with credit issues

Halloween spending has become frightful

City known for fit adults is growing fat

Tough winter ahead for lower-income households (And 4 You!)

Corn is brain food

Make VHS tapes vanish

6 Ways To Lower Energy Bills

A $ummer Well $pent

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT Going solar

Save energy. Save money.

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AOR's Alley Lighting Program

A program that installs “no-cost” mid-block alley lights in Oriigina Aurora (OA) to deter crime. 

Contact:  Original Aurora Renewal (OAR)  303.739.7929

DonÂ?’t Skimp on These Things; Ways to Save Instead!

In today's tough times, everyone is looking for ways to cut back and spend less. As you try to decide where you can cut costs, be careful not to trim in the wrong places. The Dolans share 13 things you should never skimp on and then show you how to save in other ways.

Don't Skimp on Doctor's Visits

No one likes going to the doctor, so it might be extra tempting to skip that check-up because it will save you some money. Don't do it! Your health is not an area you should be skimping. Instead, save money on health care costs by using generic drugs rather than name brands whenever possible and OK'd by your doctor. Numerous studies have shown that, since the active ingredient in many prescription medications are the same, most "name-brand" drugs are no better than their generic counterparts. And if you are a veteran, low on funds, go to the Vets Adm Med Ctr (VAMC).

Don't Skimp on Health Insurance

During desperate times, you might be tempted to see that $300+ monthly health insurance bill as a liability ... and give it the old heave-ho. PLEASE ... this is one insurance you should NEVER ditch! Unexpected medical expenses are one of the top causes of MAJOR financial trouble that can takes years to recover from. But do cut mortgage insurance if you can. This is one that many people still pay long after they need to. If your balance is 80% or less of your total loan down to 80%, private mortgage insurance is probably no longer required by your lender so cut it!

Don't Skimp on Your Car's Maintenance

Car maintenance is NOT something you want to skip as a cost-cutter. All cars need regular maintenance -- an oil change every few thousand miles, a tune-up once or twice a year, etc. -- if you want your car always to be reliable and last as long as possible. One of our radio show listeners didn't change her brake pads and, after a time, ended up with worn down rotors that cost a bundle. Instead, save by cutting out the pricey premium gas. Most cars "recommend" premium, but don't require it, so Â?… go for the lower or middle grade gas instead of the high grade if your car runs fine without it -- check your owner's manual.

Don't Skimp on Soft Clothes

But, do skip the fancy fabric softener. That doesn't mean you have to put up with scratchy clothes! Besides being a pain to remember, fabric softener is one of those extra expenses you can cut without sacrificing. You can still get the soft clothes you love by using those plastic nubbed balls they sell for your dryer. Simply toss the balls in with your clothes and they'll do the work of that fabric softener for a lot less money.

Don't Skimp on Brand-Name Toilet Paper

Look, we're as frugal as the next guys ... but let's not take this too far, OK? Bottom line is that brand-name toilet paper is, generally, simply better. Most of the less expensive store-brand products just aren't as soft and have less tissues per roll (which means a much shorter lifespan) so you're paying more "per sheet," if you will. But do save money by using the store brand napkins. All you're paying for is the brand name and the pretty print on the napkins. Store brands work just as well.

Don't Skimp on Lipstick

Ladies, don't feel guilty about buying that beautiful new lipstick for Spring next time you are at the department store. Studies show that more expensive lipsticks actually have color that lasts longer because they have more pigment in them. To offset the cost, don't buy the fancy (and expensive) brand-name mascara at your department store. Study after study shows that most mascaras use the same ingredients, so use a less expensive version from your drugstore or Wal-Mart. You'll look great and pocket some savings!

Don't Skimp on Foundation

Listen up ladies Â?…you might be able to save a few bucks buy using a cheap foundation, but it might add years to your age. More expensive brands tend to have better, longer-lasting pigment. That means you also use less, stretching your dollar and avoiding a thick layer of foundation that can make you look older. Instead, cut your beauty budget by going with cheaper nail polish. Did know that all nail polish basically uses the same ingredients? So choose a less pricey brand without worries.

Don't Skimp on Haircuts

Ask anyone who has had a bad haircut Â?…this is one area you just don't want to skimp! So don't risk a hair nightmare by ditching your trusted stylist to save a few bucks. Instead, cut your hair care costs by skipping the blow dry when you get your hair cut and you don't have any place to be afterward. Also, see if you can stretch out the time between cuts an extra week so you get one fewer haircut over the course of year.

Don't Skimp on Fresh Produce

Speaking of the doctor ... the old saying about "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" still holds true, so don't skimp on buying fresh fruits and vegetables. Yes, fresh fruit and vegetables have become pricey. But, rather than cutting back, use these tips to spend less. You can save on fresh product by visiting your local farmers' market or produce stands, by only buying what's in season and by buying what's on sale when you are at the grocery store.

Don't Skimp on Organic, Except ...

Unfortunately, organic produce is pricey -- 30-50% more than regular produce. We know lots of people who believe in buying organic produce, but are ready to give it up as an expensive luxury. Rather than give it up altogether, focus your buying on those fruits and veggies where organic matters most. Buy conventional for produce that uses very little pesticide, such as onions, avocado, sweet corn (frozen), pineapples, mango, asparagus, sweet peas (frozen), kiwi and bananas.

Don't Skimp on the Photographer

If you are looking for ways to trim wedding costs, DON'T skimp on the photographer! This is a once-in-a-lifetime day (we hope) whose memories should last forever. The last thing you want are photos that make you cringe because the photographer that saved you a few bucks did a poor job. Instead, save some money on your flowers. Get the flowers of your dreams for your bouquet, but go with simpler arrangements and less expensive types of flowers for the centerpieces and ceremony.

Don't Skimp on Pet Food

If you love your dog, you won't skimp on their food. Studies show that cheaper food contains more filler -- such as yellow corn, wheat gluten and corn syrup -- that are bad for your pet. Food that is made of natural ingredients might be more expensive per pound, but it can help keep your pet healthy (avoiding those extra vet bills!) and keep them from putting on weight. Plus, you will usually need to feed them a smaller amount of healthier food since they are getting more nutrition and less filler. If you want to cut back on pet costs, skip the toy aisle at the pet store. Is your dog really going to notice if you skip the $15 fancy toys and toss him a good old tennis ball instead?

Don't Skimp on Contributing to Your 401(k) or IRA

Cutting contributions to your retirement savings should be one of the very last things that you do. Be sure that you've eliminated all of the unnecessary expenses from your life before you consider this drastic step. This is your future you're messing with! Instead of skimping on your retirement plans, skip that daily Starbucks run instead. Heck, at $3+ a day for a cup of Joe, you'll save $90+ a month or more than $1,000 a year! That one change alone can help tremendously ... and we're sure there are other mostly painless cuts you can make in your life without sacrificing your retirement savings.

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How to Save Money on Your Monthly Tech Bills, by Dan Reilly, posted 10/16/08:

Ditch your landline and get an Internet phone (VoIP) by using a digital Internet phone service is a reliable -- also known as VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) -- is a cheap way to cut down on your cell phone bill or eliminate the higher costs on your existing landline because they usually offer tax-free reduced flat-rates for unlimited long-distance calling. All you need is a high speed Internet connection and you can choose from several services.
Most cable companies will offer digital phone service and give you a discount if you order it along with cable and Internet services (around $100 for all three). Vonage and Verizon Voicewing offer caller ID, free long distance, voicemail, and a number of other features starting at $15 per month.
Skype allows you to call or chat with other Skype users for free and offers affordable pre-paid rates for calls to actual phone numbers outside of Skype. It also allows for high-def video conferencing via your computer's Webcam. Skype is particularly affordable and useful for international calling, since all you need is a laptop, but can even be used in some mobile and home phones. Making the switch is easy -- and the financial rewards are immediate.

Send text messages from your favorite instant message (IM) program. Why use up your monthly text-messaging allowance (or pay for a text-message package at all) when you can send and receive text messages on your favorite instant messenger program. Most major IM programs, including AIM, Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger, allow you to send and receive text-messages to and from cell phones. In other words, you can send and receive text messages on your computer (using, say, the desktop version of AIM), or send and receive text messages on your phone (using the mobile version of, say, AIM).
Typically, this means setting your instant-message program to forward any IMs automatically to any number you designate any time you're offline (or, just keeping your instant messaging program open 24/7 on your phone). Skype also lets you send text messages to phones, but unfortunately you can't receive responses.

Get Rid of Your Cable DVR. Tired of paying that extra $10 a month to your cable company for its glitchy DVR (or $129 a year for Tivo)? The good news is, you don't have to worry about making sure you recorded the latest episode of your favorite show (or making sure it doesn't get automatically erased) any more because you can watch almost any show you want online now for free. All the major networks (broadcast and cable), as well as video hubs such as Hulu, Joost, YouTube, and all the major portals (including our parent company AOL) offer high-quality streams of classic and current shows right on your desktop. We haven't watched an episode of 'Battlestar Galactica,' '90210, 'The Hills,' and 'Lost' on TV for months!

Use the Web to Sample New Music. The Internet has been a huge help for us when it comes to sampling new music. All the free tracks let us sample what's out there, which makes it easier to spend money on the albums we know we'll like instead of dropping $15 on CDs that we're not sure about. iTunes and Amazon are great for downloading that new single you just heard on the radio without having to blow $15 for just one good track. We're especially fond of music blogs and sites like Hype Machine that can give you a downloadable sample of the hottest tracks out there right now as well as a great introduction niche genres that you may have never even heard of before. Also, almost all music review sites and music magazines -- Pitchfork, Spinner, RollingStone, Blender, Rcrdlbl, among others -- offer free music downloads these days, so don't forget to check out the Web versions of the music publications that you read.
Of course, you can also head over to Myspace Music, last.fm, iLike or imeem to hear thousands of new albums and tracks before you decide to buy, but you'll need a Web connection since it's streaming-only and you can't take the tracks on a portable player with you. Plus, it's pretty standard these days for bands to post free downloads on their Web site, so you can always point your browser towards your favorite band's Web site to get some new tracks.

Watch TV (and compute) at night (when electric rates are lower). You know how it's expensive to run your air conditioning during the day, when electric rates can be 5 times higher than at night? Well, same thing goes for watching TV (or using all our other gadgets). If you can bear to be away from your daytime TV shows as they're aired (assuming you don't spend your day at an office or other workplace), then consider waiting until after 7pm, when electric rates typically go down. This is especially true if you own a plasma or old-school CRT television, which tend to use up more energy than, say, an LCD-TV (about 3 to 4 times worth!). Oh, and while you're at it, keep your microwaving to a minimum during daylight hours!

Get a regular antenna (for HD). Here's a little fact no one, particularly all those salesmen and cable companies trying to get you to spend money on their HD set-top boxes, usually shares. The best HDTV is free and over-the-air. That's right, all you need is a regular old TV antenna (usually not much more than $50), an HDTV (that part will cost you) and you're set to get crystal-clear high-definition broadcasts of your favorite network shows and local news (alas, it's only for broadcast TV). The ironic thing is that over the air signals are usually of higher quality than what you get from your local cable company. So, even if you aren't trying to save money, you may still want to watch the game or your favorite network shows by using a little old TV antenna.

Simply Ask for a Better Rate. We know it's hard to believe, but simply picking up the phone and asking your cable or cell phone provider for a price break actually works most of the time. Of course, you can always cut back on channels or media plans, but if you really can't part with them, you'll first want to research rates at competing providers in the area as well as any other deals your current company is advertising. Once you've got an idea of the offers available in your area, pick up the phone, call the cable or phone company, and ask if they can match any of the lower rates you've found. You may only be able to save $10-$30 a month, but we'd be thrilled to have an extra $120 at the end of the year.

Save on Printing and Storing Photos. Yeah, your 30-gigabyte photo collection is stored safely on your computer, but there's just something about physical prints that even the biggest and brightest monitor in the world can't match. Enter online photo services like Shutterfly and Snapfish, which both offer great introductory deals: 50 free prints for first-time customers. Your relatives and friends who still haven't come around to the wild world of "the Internet" will appreciate the effort.
It seems like everyday new photo storage sites are popping up, and regardless of which one you choose, we recommend using at least one as a place to backup your photos and share with friends and family. Instead of getting doubles or triples printed out at your local photo store (or online), you can store backups online for free. For storage, Picasa and flickr are two of the most popular free sites (though you may have to pay more for more storage) with both amateur and pro photographers, and even Facebook and MySpace let you backup and share photos nowadays.

Ditch your magazine subscriptions (since you can get most of them for free). For every hobby or interest, there exists a corresponding magazine. And most likely, there's also a way to get a free subscription to that magazine. About.com has a pretty comprehensive listing for free 6- and 12-month subscription opportunities. If you don't see your desired title among those listed here, try a simple Google search (example: "cat fancy free subscription"), and you may just score a freebie. One caveat: Getting a free subscription usually entails giving up your e-mail address to an avalanche of online offers (often for more magazines), so make sure you enter an e-mail address where you're willing to receive spam.

Get your newspapers delivered to you for free (and we don't mean online!). Sure, you can read the news online, but the pleasure of sitting down with your favorite printed newspaper in the morning with your beverage of choice isn't quite the same when you're staring at a computer screen. If you're into business news -- you know, so you can figure out how to make millions so you won't need free stuff anymore -- you're in luck: Both the 'The Wall Street Journal' and the 'Financial Times' offer an impressive four weeks of free newspapers delivered to your door six days a week with a paid one-year subscription. The offers are only good for new subscribers, and for the whole package to remain free, you'll have to cancel before the freebies run out. You have been warned.

Axe the movie rental and purchase fees by going online. Whether you're an old-school DVD watcher or a new-school digital video downloader, you can get free movie rentals online in a flash. Netflix offers free 2-week trial memberships, and allows you unlimited DVD rentals as fast as you can watch them (and the post office can get them to you). Plus, Netflix now lets you watch select movies immediately online through an in-browser streaming player. For these movies, there is no monthly limit to how many you can watch. How's the selection on these? It's definitely not all-inclusive, but there is a good variety of classics and contemporary film: You can get 'A Clockwork Orange' and 'Blade Runner' but not 'On the Waterfront' or the 'Virgin Suicides.' Unfortunately, the streaming Netflix films are available only on PCs (and on TVs through Roku's $99 Netflix-streaming set-top box) now, but we're hoping to see Mac accessibility soon.

You may remember Vongo, and it has since been renamed Starz Play, where you can still download movies and videos for $5.99 a month. You can find some full-length films and documentaries on both Google Video and YouTube and Hulu is adding new full-length movies regularly. So the next time you've got some vacation time and want to save on entertainment costs, you'll have your movie budget covered.

Brew Your Own Coffee. We know most people can't survive without coffee in the morning because we're in the same boat. But we also know that spending a few bucks at Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts every morning is a waste of cash. That's why it's much more cost efficient to pony up a mere $36 for a snazzy-looking coffeemaker like the Braun KF590 and buy our own beans or grounds. This baby brews up to 54 ounces through a Brita filter and has a programmable timer so you can have fresh coffee when you wake up. Or, you can leave it unplugged when not in use to cut energy costs -- it's up to you. Unless you're incredibly lazy, there's no reason to keep throwing your money away at the coffee chains.

Buy Yourself A Dining Gift Certificate. Tightening your budget doesn't mean sticking to ramen every night. If you need to get out and enjoy a nice meal, check out Restaurant.com, a site that basically gives you free money for dining out. Available for eateries around across the country, the site offers, on average, a $25 gift certificate for only $10, provided you purchase a minimum amount of food. It's not much, but it's still free money and you'll be able to find plenty of places to use it.

If you have to buy stuff, at least get some money back. You probably know about all the deal and comparison shopping sites out there, but here's another great one to add to the list: ebates.com. Just sign up and do your shopping at over 900 stores that partner with the site, including Apple and Circuit City, and you'll get cash back for every purchase you make. Ebates also shows you what percentage you'll save at each store before you even buy anything, so you'll be the smartest shopper around.

Save On Car Repairs. Visiting a mechanic is a gamble that can easily leave you ripped off or with a shoddy work. Luckily, there's RepairPal.com, which approximates how much fixing your car should cost and recommends where to go. All you do is enter your car's information, the problem, provided you know it, and your location. The site then gives you the estimated cost of parts and labor and tells you what to expect from your local shops. Remember to leave feedback and help your fellow drivers out.

Go Solar. Do we really need to explain how solar gadgets help your budget? Remember that products that use solar energy aren't limited to the panels you put on your roof. The options range from practical lighting products, including Christmas lights, to neckties and golf bags that charge your cell phones and iPods. Seriously.
For your home logon to: www.43.PowerSaverTV.com or call: 1.800.398.1584 for possible state and power company rebates.

Use Efficient Power Strips. Power strips are great and all, but they can lead you into the bad habit of always leaving gadgets and appliances on, thereby raising your energy costs. That's why you should look into efficient power strips like the $90 Wattstopper, which senses when you're at your desk and turns on the connected gadgets, or the $42 Smart Strip, which shuts down idle gadgets, but keeps power going to those that need to be plugged in 24/7 (like cable boxes and clock radios). Or, you could just turn your strips on and off each time you need them. That also works.

Program Your Home's Temperature. Keeping your home at the same temperature 24 hours a day either means you have too much money to care or you're not paying attention to your bills. Programmable thermostats allow you to set your temperature based on the time of day, making sure you're comfortable while keeping your air conditioning or heating bills down. Honeywell offers a number of products with different programming options, starting around $25, while Ecobee's Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat can be controlled from anywhere in the world via Web-connected computer (so you can shut off the air conditioning from Tokyo, if need be).

Use Motion Sensor Lighting. You already know that turning off lights in your home is an excellent way to save on your electric bill, so why not make it easier to turn off the lights you don't need? Motion sensors come in a variety of models and increase energy efficiency and security in your home. They can plug straight into a bulb, be integrated into your switches, and work inside and outside. Plus, you'll feel really cool when the lights come on every time you enter a room.

Monitor Your Electric Use . You know how you might have second thoughts about eating fast food when you look at the nutrition facts? Monitoring your energy consumption will have the same effect, only you'll end up cutting volts instead of calories. You can go the cheaper route with a monitor like the $27 Kill A Watt, which measures one appliance at a time. Or, you can pony up $140 for The Energy Detective, which measures your entire household's usage in real time, letting you figure out the best way to manage your home's electricity, and promises a bill reduction of 10 to 20%.

Other ideas: Stick to a laptop, if you have one, they are cheaper to operate than desktops. Use a Low Flow Showerhead. Find and buy cheaper gas. Light up w/Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs).

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Getting a green mortgage
Walecia Konrad, 3/9/2008, MoneySmart, USA Weekend.com

Credit for lower energy bills on old and new homes. Some lenders may qualify buyers for higher loan amounts, factoring in long-term savings on utilities and adding that to a buyer's qualifying income.

Help with improvements on an older home. Some lenders incorporate the costs of energy-efficient upgrades (windows, heating/cooling systems, insulation) into your loan amount. If improvements are not made before the loan closes, the upgrade funds are held in escrow.
Plus, check state incentives. Go to: National Association of State Energy Officals: naseo.org to find contact info for your state energy office. Then call and ask about any low-interest loans for energy-efficient renovations on existing homes.

Governor's Energy Office
225 East 16th Avenue, Suite 650
Denver, CO 80203Phone: 303.866.2100
Fax: 303.866.2930
Email: geo@state.co.us
Web Site: http://www.state.co.us/oemc


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5 Ways to Boost Home Value
By Kelli B. Grant, Reporter, SmartMoney.com

These days, most homeowners are facing a scary reality: a rapid decline in their home's value. According to the National Association of Realtors, median existing home prices are down 7.7% from year ago -- and they're not expected to recover anytime soon.

One way to buck the trend and boost the value of your home is to make some basic renovations. There's no need to embark on big-ticket projects -- you probably won't recoup all of the costs anyway. Instead, seek out some inexpensive projects that will not only brighten up the place, but put a little extra cash in your pocket should you decide to sell your home.

1. Paint: Cost: $60 for two gallons of Benjamin Moore interior paint -- enough to paint the walls and ceiling of a 12-by-15 room.

A little paint or varnish can go a long way toward improving your home's value. One fresh coat (along with a little sanding and caulking) wipes out the scuffs, chips, cracks and other damage that clearly convey wear and tear. Make your first priority the front door, where everyone from visitors to potential buyers lingers. "You're standing on the front porch and you have a good 15, 20 seconds just to look," says David Lupberger, home improvement expert with ServiceMagic.com, a Golden, Colo.-based contractor marketplace. Inside, don't forget to freshen up the baseboards, doors and ceilings after you tackle the walls.

Just remember to stick to neutral colors if you're thinking of selling sometime soon, advises Lupberger. Buyers might not share your appreciation for the eye-popping combo of Fireball Orange and Traffic Light Green in the living room.

2. Basic maintenance: Cost: $250 for a home inspection, including walk-through and report of suggested fixes.

"You have to be careful with remodeling because you can spend money in the wrong place and not get it all back," says Lyle Martin, co-founder of Assist-2-Sell, a Reno, Nev.-based real estate brokerage. A common mistake: making aesthetic upgrades while ignoring basic maintenance. New bathroom tiles mean nothing if the plumbing is faulty or the underlying wall has dry rot.

If you don't address these problems before putting your home on the market, it'll cost you. Buyers traditionally negotiate a $2 discount for every $1 in damage that turns up in a home inspection, according to home inspection service HouseMaster.
Aim to complete a few small maintenance projects each year, like fixing that creaky floorboard or replacing a cracked light switch plate, advises Martin. Not sure where to start? Hire a home inspector to point out which areas would be problematic were your home on the market.

3. Energy-efficiency upgrades : Cost: $500 to replace your old clothes washer with an Energy-Star certified Frigidaire washer (including a $50 utility-provided rebate and an estimated $50 in energy savings the first year).

Energy-efficiency projects such as installing Energy-Star windows or swapping for a high-efficiency boiler are one of the few upgrades that hold their value in a down market (Read our story here for more tips on boosting your home's value). Not only will such improvements cut your energy bills, but they'll also be more attractive to buyers who are hunting for more earth-friendly homes. "Homeowners can show buyers their utility bills as documentation of the effects of those energy-efficiency improvements," says Rozanne Weissman, a spokeswoman for the Alliance to Save Energy. "With energy prices so high, it makes a big difference." (Click here for a guide on buying eco-friendly homes.

Look for incentives and rebates through your utility providers and state and local governments. And don't forget about federal tax credits. Both the House and Senate have given tentative approval to an extension of the energy-efficiency tax credits from the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which offered a credit of up to $500 for select projects completed in 2006 and 2007. The two-year extension could become law by summer. Look to the Tax Incentives Assistance Project to refresh your memory on what criteria projects must meet to qualify.

4. Install New Fixtures: Cost: $86 for an American Standard faucet, 10 drawer pulls and 10 knobs.

Giving a room a more modern look requires little more than a screwdriver and some new fixtures. "New hardware can completely freshen a house," says Amy Matthews, host of DIY Network's "Sweat Equity." "Things that are outdated are things that buyers would turn their noses up at." As far as fixes go, it's dirt cheap. New drawer handles or knobs can be had for as little as $2 each. There are also plenty of options out there for personalizing your space. Home Depot lists almost 900 kitchen and bathroom faucets priced below $50. You might also try swapping out ceiling-mount light fixtures or doorknobs.

5. Landscaping: Cost: $200 for 5 each of dogwood, forsythia and red-flowering butterfly shrubs, plus $100 for enough mulch to cover 200 square feet of planting beds.

"A good first impression is crucial," says Jennifer Michaels, senior vice president for FSBO.com, a for-sale-by-owner listing site. Your carefully groomed landscaping -- or, in contrast, weed-overgrown jungle -- is one of the first things a potential buyer notices. But enhancing curb appeal is also something every seller does. You'll score more points with a yard that was obviously fixed up long before you listed your property.

Savings can be had as well, as long as you plant wisely. Drought-resistant shrubs require less water, while perennials won't require repeat plant purchases in coming years. Leafy deciduous trees shade your home from the hot summer sun, and allow maximum heat transfer inside during cold winters.

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5 Things you meed to know about Stopping junk mail
Mary Forsell, 3/9/2008, USA Weekend.com

1. Get off the lists. Go to dmachoice.org and click on "Remove my name from those lists." That lets you register with the Mail Preference Service of the Direct Marketing Association to get off mailing lists. Online registration is free (or $1 through the mail) and is good for three years, says DMA's Patricia Kachura. This move alone should stop 80% of unsolicited mail within four months.

2. Don't register products. Your proof of purchase of a new product serves as a guarantee of warranty for that item, so you don't need to fill out questionnaire-style product registration forms (unless you're concerned about recall alerts), says Tom Watson of the National Waste Prevention Coalition. "They're used for mailing lists," he says. And never sign up for contests and sweepstakes, Watson adds.

3. Squash the offers. To stop preapproved credit offers, have your name removed from lists supplied by the major consumer credit reporting companies. Visit optoutprescreen.com or call the toll-free number 888-567-8688; with both methods, you're covered for five years. You also can opt out permanently by phone or by mail using a form found on the website. "Not only will you nix the offers, but you'll be reducing your chances of identity theft," says Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

4. Remain anonymous. Supermarket loyalty cards enable marketers to track buying habits and can generate unsolicited mail. Givens recommends paying cash, avoiding supermarkets that use these cards or signing up for cards using a pseudonym like Jane or Joe Shopper, with no address, to preserve your anonymity.

5. Stay vigilant. Buying online is the main culprit for catalog overload, says Tim Sanchez of the non-profit consumer group New American Dream. When you make a purchase, immediately send an e-mail to the company or call its toll-free number and ask that your name be removed from the mailing list. And the new catalogchoice.org lets you choose which catalogs to refuse.


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You Probably Don't Need This
When it comes to insurance, people often think that it's better to be safe than sorry, but often wind up spending more money than they should on coverage they don't need.

Life Insurance for Children. Why You Don't Need It: While losing a child is about the toughest thing that a parent can experience from an emotional standpoint, by in large it does not lead to economic hardship. "No one is depending on the baby's income or the child's income for continued survival," Robert Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, says. "Economically, it's not an appropriate thing to do."
Cancer Insurance. Why You Don't Need It: One company selling these types of policies advertises that it provides "essential coverage against enormous risk." Both Hunter and Greg Daugherty, executive editor of 'Consumer Reports,' don't agree with that sentiment, arguing that it's wasteful for consumers to protect themselves against dying in a particular way. "If you are killed, to your family it's a big loss however you are killed," Daugherty said. "You don't need to protect against any particular way of getting killed. You are much better off having a good insurance."
Accidental Death. Why You Don't Need It: Unless someone is in a particularly dangerous profession such as a stunt man, this type of insurance isn't needed. Moreover, most people don't die from accidents, making it unlikely that a person's heirs will ever see the money. Experts recommend having a comprehensive life insurance policy instead. "You wouldn't buy toothpaste a squeeze out of the tube at a time," Hunter said.
Travel Insurance. Why You Don't Need It: Most people don't need coverage to protect against a trip cancellation unless they are seriously ill and are worried that a reoccurrence of their disease may hamper their trip plans, Hunter said. This coverage might be worth it for people who are planning a particularly expensive trip that would be difficult to reschedule otherwise.
Whole Life Insurance. Why You Don't Need It: Most people are better off buying term insurance rather than whole life, which includes an investment component that people can borrow against. "We're solidly on the side of term insurance for most people," said Daugherty, adding that people need to make sure that a spouse who doesn't work outside the home also is covered because their death would "create a financial need on the part of the family."

Insurance Against Inconveniences. Why You Don't Need It: Insurance against inconveniences -- having rain on your vacation and losing a pair of contact lenses -- may be annoying but they are hardly the end of the world. Nonetheless, there are policies available for these situations, Hunter said. On a related note, consumers should avoid buying extended warranties on consumer electronics, according to Daugherty.
Identity Theft. Why You Don't Need It: Consumers are increasingly worried that someone will steal their confidential information online. Consumer Reports, though, recommends that people regularly check their credit reports, which are available for free, instead. "We haven't been impressed with what we have seen so far," Daugherty said.
Insuring Your Clunker. Why You Don't Need It: It makes no sense to have comprehensive and collision insurance on an old car that's not a classic. The insurance company will only give you the official Blue Book value of the vehicle if it's totaled in an accident, said Carolyn Gorman of the Insurance Institute of America.
Extended Warranties. Why You Don't Need It: These are often a waste of money. Most electronics goods of decent quality will not fail while they are under warranty. "We think they are generally not worth the money," said Daugherty of Consumer Reports.

Optional:
Are you a veteran? Is your spouse deceased? Are you single and/or a veteran? Are you a person with no connection except a child(ren) and/or grandchildren(s)?

1. As a veteran, even with non-service connected medical problems, You do NOT need Medicare. Go to the nearest Veterans Administration Medical Center and obtain care for little and/or no cost to you, no money. You may have to make a co-payment(s) for medications, but it will be less than the $100.00+ a month you are or will pay for Medicare and its supplements. Also, you only want Part A, free hospitalization, of Medicare NOT Part B, for which you have to pay. Forget AARP and all the rest!!

2. Do you care if your debts, credits/debit cards and medical bills, are paid when you die? Why should you, you are dead. Are the creditors going to come after you? Just made sure your dependents and/or children DO NOT cosign for you on anything, otherwise they become responsible! Tell your dependents and/or children, not sign anything for you. Later if someone calls to collect your debts, HANG UP the phone, because they did NOT SIGN for you.

3. Burial Insurance. If you are a veteran, you have FREE burial, because you paid for it. Just remember you are dead. If your family wanted to spend money on you, they should have done it when you were alive. Funerals and there trappings are a total waste on MONEY, like a wedding. Buy a house, forget a wedding, see at Justice of the Peace, its less expensive. If you are not a veteran, tell your family to contact you local county government. If you and/or they qualify, they may receive funds from the County to assist with funeral expenditures. After all, you and they paid for the program!!

4. Have a house and/or other properties/sources of income? Make a Will and leave it to your grandchildren, if you like them. Do NOT leave it to your children, your grandchildren have no sources of income, but you children do! Grandchild(ren), have No Income, therefore, No Taxes. Use a Quick Claim Form for property and donate other assets, if possible, prior to your death. Let them take care of you before you die. Rent the property from them, if that is your gift to them. Designate your child(ren) as the Executor/Executrix, Administrator for your grandchild(ren). Advice the Administrator to lease/rent your former property for income for their child(ren), your grandchild(ren).

5. The ONLY sure thing in life is death, but they are working on that!! You do not have to pay taxes, but you may be incarcerated. Who cares, they have to provide you with 3 Hots and a Cot.

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Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

COMMON WAYS ID THEFT HAPPENS:
Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including:
1. Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
2. Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
3. Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a Â?“change of addressÂ?” form.
5. Â?“Old-FashionedÂ?” Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records from their employers, or bribe employees who have access.

DETER
Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.
Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information.
â?–  Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
â?–  Protect your Social Security number. DonÂ?’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
â?–  DonÂ?’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
â?–  Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.
â?–  DonÂ?’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your motherÂ?’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
â?–  Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

DETECT
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.
Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:
â?–  Bills that do not arrive as expected
â?–  Unexpected credit cards or account statements
â?–  Denials of credit for no apparent reason
â?–  Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
Inspect:
â?–  Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.
The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companiesÂ?—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnionÂ?—to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.
Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these 3 companies, to order your free credit reports each year. You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
â?–  Your financial statements. Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make.

DEFEND
Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect it.
â?–  Place a Â?“Fraud AlertÂ?” on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you havenÂ?’t contacted, accounts you didnÂ?’t open, and debts on your accounts that you canÂ?’t explain.
â?–  Close accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or changed without your okay. Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents. Use the ID Theft Affidavit at ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement.
Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharge
Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.
â?–  File a police report. File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
â?–  Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.
Online: ftc.gov/idtheft
By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261
By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580


To learn more about ID theft and how to deter, detect, and defend against it, visit ftc.gov/idtheft. Or request copies of ID theft resources by writing to: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, H-130Washington, DC 20580

HDTV (High Definition Television) is here today, and it's FREE!

If you are at this site, it is quite likely you saw an informational spot stating Â?“This program is available Â?“ FREE Over-The-AirÂ?” in HDTVÂ?” on a Â?‘standardÂ?’ analog television set. Welcome to our site! You have two decisions to now makeÂ?…find out what HDTV is all about (read onÂ?…), or find what companion HDTV programming is available to you Â?“FREE Over-The-AirÂ?”. If you have chosen the later, you may go to the CHECKHD site and lookup the local HDTV programming available to you here.
"Over-the-air" HDTV is just one of the many new and exciting services your local television station is providing you today, with even more services being planned for your future. Free "over-the-air" DTV (Digital Television) has been mandated by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), and all television broadcasters are required to provide this service to you, "over the air"... for FREE!

How can I get "MY FREE HDTV"?
FACT! - FREE "over-the-air" HDTV television signals are being provided by many of your local television stations. Most of the "Prime Time" programming by your network stations is provided to your local TV station in HDTV. You need NOT pay for it by purchasing a monthly subscription from a Cable or Satellite provider. If your local station is broadcasting it in HDTV, all you need is a simple antenna (type defined by your location), an "over-the-air" HDTV receiver, and a monitor that will support the receivers HDTV output.
Your equipment needs will vary depending on what components you currently have, what you want to display, and how big your budget is. These simple diagrams can help you wire some of the more common configurations. Remember, to receive great looking TV, you don't have to do everything at once. You can build your system "step by step", and work within a reasonable budget.

Government Coupon, your money, from the Govt!! How do I get a coupon? http://www.dtv2009.gov/

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE OUT $40 COUPONS TOWARDS THE $50-$70 HDTV RECEIVERS IN EARLY 2008.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/PreparingForTheDTVTransition.pdf

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA): www.ntia.doc.gov/

Info: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html

This link is straight to the application: https://www.dtv2009.gov/

Know someone who doesn't have the internet; Print off and mail them this application:
https://www.dtv2009.gov/docs/Coupon_Program_App_en.pdf

What you need to know about the 02/17/2009 switch to digital TV: 1-888-dtv-2009
http://www.dtvanswers.com/



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HDTV (High Definition Television) is here today, and it's FREE!

If you are at this site, it is quite likely you saw an informational spot stating Â?“This program is available Â?“ FREE Over-The-AirÂ?” in HDTVÂ?” on a Â?‘standardÂ?’ analog television set. Welcome to our site! You have two decisions to now makeÂ?…find out what HDTV is all about (read onÂ?…), or find what companion HDTV programming is available to you Â?“FREE Over-The-AirÂ?”. If you have chosen the later, you may go to the CHECKHD site and lookup the local HDTV programming available to you here.
"Over-the-air" HDTV is just one of the many new and exciting services your local television station is providing you today, with even more services being planned for your future. Free "over-the-air" DTV (Digital Television) has been mandated by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), and all television broadcasters are required to provide this service to you, "over the air"... for FREE!

If you just have to have HDTV, when shopping for a new television, demand that your new television equipment has the capability of receiving FREE "over-the-air" HDTV!

This site will serve as a resource to you as you begin to understand and enjoy Free HDTV. We will try to provide you with answers to common questions on DTV and HDTV, and provide useful information in helping you make an informed decision that's best for you and your family. Give us time over the coming weeks and months to educate you, so that you can feel confident in making an informed buying choice.
To start, here are some of the FACTS!
What is the difference between Analog and Digital Television?
Analog Television (Standard = NTSC - National Television Standards Committee)
The analog television broadcast system used in the United States for the past 50 years transmits signals as an electronic wave. In the wave, images and sounds are represented by continuously changing frequencies and voltage levels. Transmitters broadcast this signal over the air, and the waves are translated back into images and sounds by TV sets. Unfortunately, the shape of this wave is susceptible to degradation as it travels to your home. This degradation can introduce unwanted elements, called artifacts, into the picture. Many things can interfere with an analog signal, such as planes passing overhead and household appliances.
Digital Television (Standard = ATSC - Advanced Television Systems Committee)
When a digital television signal is transmitted, images and sounds are divided into tiny components of digital information, the ones and zeros of computer language. The digital data provides a more consistent signal that is highly resistant to interference. Unlike the analog wave, there is little chance of misinterpreting what the computer data means. Digital television sets can then receive this data and decode it back into images and sounds. The result is a perfect, studio-quality picture free from the interference, snow and ghosts that appear on analog TV broadcasts.
Advantages of DTV (Digital Television)
Picture
Picture realism adds to the television experience, and crisp digital pictures are one of the biggest advantages of digital television. Unlike analog TV, digital TV is free from snow, ghosts and interference. With HDTV, you get 4 to 5 times more picture information than conventional analog TV pictures. Combine that with the new widescreen format, and you have the ultimate home theater viewing experience.

Sound
Sound adds emotion to the television experience and DTV (Digital Television) is enhanced with CD-quality theater-like audio. The DTV signal may include audio in the 5.1 channel Dolby® Digital format - separate left and right front channels, left and right rear channels, center and LFE (Low Frequency Effects-subwoofer) channels.

Multicasting and Datacasting
"Over the air" DTV broadcasts carry huge amounts of digital information - more than 19 megabits per second. Because of this, your local broadcaster may choose to split their channel into two, three or more streams of programming to offer more choice and flexibility to the viewer.

Multicasting allows your local broadcaster to transmit several standard-definition digital programs at the same time. For example, you may have the choice of a high-definition movie, a popular sitcom and a news program from a single local station!

Datacasting links information from various sources, such as the Internet, to the television broadcast and allows the information to be displayed on-screen at the same time as a television program or delivered to your PC. You may then be able to get the latest stock quotes, access statistics on your favorite player during a football game, or order the product you just saw advertised right from your TV.

Digital Video Formats
The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) DTV standard adopted by the FCC in 1996 contains 18 defined scanning formats. They include interlaced and progressive scan HDTV and SDTV formats with varying frame rates, and two aspect ratios.
Active Lines
Scanning formats are measured in active lines of picture elements or pixels transmitted, both horizontal and vertical. The number of total pixels is calculated by multiplying the amount of vertical lines by the density of horizontal picture elements. For example, the 1920x1080 HDTV format has more than 2 million pixels. (1920 X 1080 = 2,073,600). Today's NTSC video only has a resolution of 211,200 pixels (480 vertical lines and 440 horizontal pixels).

Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio refers to the shape of the video image. Today's television has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is almost square in appearance. Digital television will have either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. A 16:9 aspect ratio is widescreen, and appears rectangular: this looks more like a movie screen, filling more of the viewer's field of vision for a more lifelike viewing experience.

Scanning Method (interlaced vs. Progressive)
Frames of video are made up of many lines of video that are scanned onto a television screen so closely they appear to be a solid picture. The scanning method can be either interlaced or progressive. Interlaced scanning (also used in today's analog TV), indicated by an "i" in the video format, fills in the odd number lines (1,3,5,7...) and then fills in the even number lines (2,4,6,8...) until the frame is complete. Progressive scanning, "P", fills in each line consecutively until the frame is complete, like a computer display.

Frame Rate
Frame rate, also known as picture rate, is the speed at which the lines are scanned in order to create a video frame, 60-, 30-, or 24-frames per second.


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Solar*Rewards Program

At Xcel Energy, we work to deliver the power you need while conserving our natural resources. Solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation is a clean and sustainable source of renewable energy for Colorado. But one size does not fit all, so we offer three rebate categories for different PV systems. The Solar*Rewards program provides incentives based on the size of the system you install at your home or business.

Residential and commercial customers of Xcel Energy electric service in Colorado can apply for Solar*Rewards rebates on small and medium systems. Small systems generate 0.5 kW to 10.0 kW DC, and medium systems produce 10.1 kW to 100.0 kW DC. Larger Colorado businesses may qualify for rebates through an RFP program on large systems that generate 100.1 kW to 2 MW DC. See the individual program pages for more information.

Contact: xcelengery.com

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Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

COMMON WAYS ID THEFT HAPPENS:
Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including:
1. Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
2. Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
3. Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a ¡°change of address¡± form.
5. ¡°Old-Fashioned¡± Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records from their employers, or bribe employees who have access.

DETER
Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.
Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information.
¡ö Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
¡ö Protect your Social Security number. Don¡¯t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
¡ö Don¡¯t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
¡ö Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.
¡ö Don¡¯t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother¡¯s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
¡ö Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

DETECT
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.
Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:
¡ö Bills that do not arrive as expected
¡ö Unexpected credit cards or account statements
¡ö Denials of credit for no apparent reason
¡ö Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
Inspect:
¡ö Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.
The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies¡ªEquifax, Experian, and TransUnion¡ªto give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.
Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these 3 companies, to order your free credit reports each year. You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
¡ö Your financial statements. Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make.

DEFEND
Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect it.
¡ö Place a ¡°Fraud Alert¡± on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven¡¯t contacted, accounts you didn¡¯t open, and debts on your accounts that you can¡¯t explain.
¡ö Close accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or changed without your okay. Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents. Use the ID Theft Affidavit at ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement.
Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharge
Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.
¡ö File a police report. File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
¡ö Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.
Online: ftc.gov/idtheft
By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261
By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580


To learn more about ID theft and how to deter, detect, and defend against it, visit ftc.gov/idtheft. Or request copies of ID theft resources by writing to: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, H-130Washington, DC 20580

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Getting a green mortgage
Walecia Konrad, 3/9/2008, MoneySmart, USA Weekend.com

Credit for lower energy bills on old and new homes. Some lenders may qualify buyers for higher loan amounts, factoring in long-term savings on utilities and adding that to a buyer's qualifying income.

Help with improvements on an older home. Some lenders incorporate the costs of energy-efficient upgrades (windows, heating/cooling systems, insulation) into your loan amount. If improvements are not made before the loan closes, the upgrade funds are held in escrow.
Plus, check state incentives. Go to: National Association of State Energy Officals: naseo.org to find contact info for your state energy office. Then call and ask about any low-interest loans for energy-efficient renovations on existing homes.

Governor's Energy Office
225 East 16th Avenue, Suite 650
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303.866.2100
Fax: 303.866.2930
Email: geo@state.co.us
Web Site: http://www.state.co.us/oemc

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5 Things you meed to know about Stopping junk mail
Mary Forsell, 3/9/2008, USA Weekend.com

1. Get off the lists. Go to dmachoice.org and click on "Remove my name from those lists." That lets you register with the Mail Preference Service of the Direct Marketing Association to get off mailing lists. Online registration is free (or $1 through the mail) and is good for three years, says DMA's Patricia Kachura. This move alone should stop 80% of unsolicited mail within four months.

2. Don't register products. Your proof of purchase of a new product serves as a guarantee of warranty for that item, so you don't need to fill out questionnaire-style product registration forms (unless you're concerned about recall alerts), says Tom Watson of the National Waste Prevention Coalition. "They're used for mailing lists," he says. And never sign up for contests and sweepstakes, Watson adds.

3. Squash the offers. To stop preapproved credit offers, have your name removed from lists supplied by the major consumer credit reporting companies. Visit optoutprescreen.com or call the toll-free number 888-567-8688; with both methods, you're covered for five years. You also can opt out permanently by phone or by mail using a form found on the website. "Not only will you nix the offers, but you'll be reducing your chances of identity theft," says Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

4. Remain anonymous. Supermarket loyalty cards enable marketers to track buying habits and can generate unsolicited mail. Givens recommends paying cash, avoiding supermarkets that use these cards or signing up for cards using a pseudonym like Jane or Joe Shopper, with no address, to preserve your anonymity.

5. Stay vigilant. Buying online is the main culprit for catalog overload, says Tim Sanchez of the non-profit consumer group New American Dream. When you make a purchase, immediately send an e-mail to the company or call its toll-free number and ask that your name be removed from the mailing list. And the new catalogchoice.org lets you choose which catalogs to refuse.

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10 Insurance Policies to Avoid
AOL Money & Finance

You Probably Don't Need These:

When it comes to insurance, people often think that it's better to be safe than sorry, but often wind up spending more money than they should on coverage they don't need.

Life Insurance for Children. Why You Don't Need It: While losing a child is about the toughest thing that a parent can experience from an emotional standpoint, by in large it does not lead to economic hardship. "No one is depending on the baby's income or the child's income for continued survival," Robert Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, says. "Economically, it's not an appropriate thing to do."

Cancer Insurance. Why You Don't Need It: One company selling these types of policies advertises that it provides "essential coverage against enormous risk." Both Hunter and Greg Daugherty, executive editor of 'Consumer Reports,' don't agree with that sentiment, arguing that it's wasteful for consumers to protect themselves against dying in a particular way. "If you are killed, to your family it's a big loss however you are killed," Daugherty said. "You don't need to protect against any particular way of getting killed. You are much better off having a good insurance."

Accidental Death. Why You Don't Need It: Unless someone is in a particularly dangerous profession such as a stunt man, this type of insurance isn't needed. Moreover, most people don't die from accidents, making it unlikely that a person's heirs will ever see the money. Experts recommend having a comprehensive life insurance policy instead. "You wouldn't buy toothpaste a squeeze out of the tube at a time," Hunter said.

Travel Insurance. Why You Don't Need It: Most people don't need coverage to protect against a trip cancellation unless they are seriously ill and are worried that a reoccurrence of their disease may hamper their trip plans, Hunter said. This coverage might be worth it for people who are planning a particularly expensive trip that would be difficult to reschedule otherwise.
Whole Life Insurance. Why You Don't Need It: Most people are better off buying term insurance rather than whole life, which includes an investment component that people can borrow against. "We're solidly on the side of term insurance for most people," said Daugherty, adding that people need to make sure that a spouse who doesn't work outside the home also is covered because their death would "create a financial need on the part of the family."

Insurance Against Inconveniences. Why You Don't Need It: Insurance against inconveniences -- having rain on your vacation and losing a pair of contact lenses -- may be annoying but they are hardly the end of the world. Nonetheless, there are policies available for these situations, Hunter said. On a related note, consumers should avoid buying extended warranties on consumer electronics, according to Daugherty.

Identity Theft. Why You Don't Need It: Consumers are increasingly worried that someone will steal their confidential information online. Consumer Reports, though, recommends that people regularly check their credit reports, which are available for free, instead. "We haven't been impressed with what we have seen so far," Daugherty said.

Insuring Your Clunker. Why You Don't Need It: It makes no sense to have comprehensive and collision insurance on an old car that's not a classic. The insurance company will only give you the official Blue Book value of the vehicle if it's totaled in an accident, said Carolyn Gorman of the Insurance Institute of America.
Extended Warranties. Why You Don't Need It: These are often a waste of money. Most electronics goods of decent quality will not fail while they are under warranty. "We think they are generally not worth the money," said Daugherty of Consumer Reports.

Optional:
Are you a veteran? Is your spouse deceased? Are you single and/or a veteran? Are you a person with no connection except a child(ren) and/or grandchildren(s)?

1. As a veteran, even with non-service connected medical problems, You do NOT need Medicare. Go to the nearest Veterans Administration Medical Center and obtain care for little and/or no cost to you, no money. You may have to make a co-payment(s) for medications, but it will be less than the $100.00+ a month you are or will pay for Medicare and its supplements. Also, you only want Part A, free hospitalization, of Medicare NOT Part B, for which you have to pay. Forget AARP and all the rest!!

2. Do you care if your debts, credits/debit cards and medical bills, are paid when you die? Why should you, you are dead. Are the creditors going to come after you? Just made sure your dependents and/or children DO NOT cosign for you on anything, otherwise they become responsible! Tell your dependents and/or children, not sign anything for you. Later if someone calls to collect your debts, HANG UP the phone, because they did NOT SIGN for you.

3. Burial Insurance. If you are a veteran, you have FREE burial, because you paid for it. Just remember you are dead. If your family wanted to spend money on you, they should have done it when you were alive. Funerals and there trappings are a total waste on MONEY, like a wedding. Buy a house, forget a wedding, see at Justice of the Peace, its less expensive. If you are not a veteran, tell your family to contact you local county government. If you and/or they qualify, they may receive funds from the County to assist with funeral expenditures. After all, you and they paid for the program!!

4. Have a house and/or other properties/sources of income? Make a Will and leave it to your grandchildren, if you like them. Do NOT leave it to your children, your grandchildren have no sources of income, but you children do! Grandchild(ren), have No Income, therefore, No Taxes. Use a Quick Claim Form for property and donate other assets, if possible, prior to your death. Let them take care of you before you die. Rent the property from them, if that is your gift to them. Designate your child(ren) as the Executor/Executrix, Administrator for your grandchild(ren). Advice the Administrator to lease/rent your former property for income for their child(ren), your grandchild(ren).

5. The ONLY sure thing in life is death, but they are working on that!! You do not have to pay taxes, but you may be incarcerated. Who cares, they have to provide you with 3 Hots and a Cot.

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Top 5ive Ways You're Wasting Your Money; By Aleksandra Todorova; Published: 4/1/2007

FEEL LIKE YOUR hard-earned cash leaves your wallet faster than it should? Don't blame the lattes. Chances are you're blowing through money in much more substantial ways, from paying too much for your car to forking over insurance premiums you could easily reduce.

So forget about penny-pinching. Here are five major ways folks waste their money. Stop wasting money in these areas and you'll never fret about your latte spending again.

1. New Cars. Because cars depreciate fastest during the first two or three years of ownership, that new-car smell probably costs you 30% or more than if you bought the same car used, says Philip Reed, consumer advice editor for the car information web site Edmunds.com. "People who have money and are good with money frequently buy used because they understand how much they're saving," he says. On top of that, used cars typically have lower insurance premiums, mainly because they cost less, Reed explains. For advice on buying a used car, click here.

Regular cost: A 2007 Ford Escape XLT 4dr SUV can be yours for $22,280 MSRP, according to Edmunds.com.

Smart savings: At Edmunds.com's used-car listings, we found a 2005 Ford Escape XLT for less than $16,000 ¡ª a 28% savings. The same model certified costs roughly $18,000, still 19% less than this year's model.

2. Brand Names at the Supermarket. At the drug store or supermarket, some brand items are simply not worth buying. The generic versions are just as good and cost much less. This can be anything from bananas and paprika, to most over-the-counter medications. The secret: Generic items are often made using the exact same formulas as the brands you like. In some cases they're even made by the same companies. But since drug stores and supermarkets don't have to advertise these products, generics are much cheaper. For some specific examples, click here.

That said, not all generic items are worth buying. The classic example: paper goods. Because the cheaper generics are made with fewer fibers, they're often thinner and hold less liquid. For a list of generic items that aren't worth the savings, click here.

Regular cost: At Walgreens, a 100-count bottle of Bayer aspirin costs $6.50.

Smart savings: Walgreen's generic aspirin is just 99 cents. You save: 85%.

3. At the Office. Granted, we're paid to work, so the workplace isn't your logical money pit. Answer this, though: Are you taking advantage of all benefits your employer offers?

We don't just mean your 401(k), but perks with more immediate gratification, too. Take your flexible spending account, which lets you use pretax dollars for medical expenses, including over-the-counter medications. If you're in the 25% tax bracket, you'll save $25 out of every $100 you spend. These days, almost all employers 96% offer FSAs, according to consulting firm Hewitt Associates. Many employers also offer dependent care spending accounts to set aside pretax dollars for childcare, and have transit programs that do the same with commuting expenses.

A few more perks to consider: group purchasing discounts, such as group auto insurance (35% of employers have them, according to Hewitt) and group homeowners insurance (34%). Additionally, 22% of employers offer entertainment discounts, such as cheaper museum admission or movie theater tickets.

Regular cost: The average employee will spend a whopping $1,627 on out-of-pocket health-care costs (not including over-the-counter medications), according to benefits consultant Hewitt Associates.

Smart savings: For someone in the 25% tax bracket, covering these costs using an FSA will save you $531.

4. Cellphone Early Termination Fees. If you're lucky, you'll never have to cancel your cellphone contract before it expires. These days, cellphone companies tie you in for as long as two years ¡ª twice as long as they used to several years ago. And should anything unexpected happen during that time ¡ª say you have to move and have bad or no signal in your new home or office, or your phone breaks and you find other carriers offer much better prices on new phones and plans ¡ª canceling your contract will cost you as much as $200 per line. Indeed, between 2002 and 2004, consumers spent a whopping $2.6 billion on early termination fees, according to Deirdre Cummings, legislative director of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, or MASSPIRG.

The good news: You can avoid paying early termination fees thanks to companies that help you transfer your contract to someone else. These relatively new services act like matchmakers between consumers trying to get rid of their cellphone plans and those willing to take them over. (The allure of buying an existing plan is a shorter-term contract and, ideally, a free phone.) At Celltradeusa.com, for example, you post an ad detailing your plan and interested buyers contact you via email. The cost: $19.99. For more on this, read our story "Ditching Your Cell Contract.".

Regular cost: You'll typically pay $150 to $200 to break your contract, depending on your carrier.

Smart savings: Through the web site Celltradeusa.com, you can find someone to take over your contract for a one-time fee of $19.99. Savings: as much as 90%.

5. Homeowners Insurance. Homeowners in some coastal and hurricane zones are about to see their homeowners insurance premiums as much as double this year, according to the Insurance Information Institute, an industry information group. But you don't have to take the full hit. If you haven't already asked your insurer for discounts you may qualify for, now is the time to do so. If your homeowners and auto insurance policy are from the same company, for example, you could get 5% to 15% off your homeowners premiums. So could membership organizations like the AARP or AAA, or even your alma mater's alumni association.

And if you live in a hurricane or wildfire zone, improving the strength of your home ¡ª by installing special protection on your windows and doors so they're more wind-resistant, for example ¡ª could also get you a premium discount. (For details on the specific hazards in your area and suggestions on how to strengthen your home, use the zip code search of the Institute for Business and Home Safety web site).

Regular cost: Homeowners insurance premiums are expected to average $776 in 2007, according to the Insurance Information Institute, up 2% to 4% compared with 2006. But coastal communities and hurricane zones will see premium hikes of 20% to 100%.

Smart savings: Special discounts can save you as much as 20%, including discounts for disaster-proofing your home.

Top 5ive Archive. For more answers to your tough investing questions, subscribe to SmartMoney Magazine.

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Secrets for Hiding Your Flab, 12/1/2007, By Matthew Schneiderman

The roll that's been hanging over your belt won't be leaving any time soon. Don't have a couple thou to drop on lipo? There are alternatives to spending the rest of your life on a treadmill if you want to look thin. We asked some primo Hollywood types (who know all about faking it) for tips on the best ways to hide your flab with a few wardrobe adjustments.

Loosen the Belt: "For some reason, big guys think that too-tight belts make them look smaller," says Emmy Award-winning costumer and fashion consultant to "Extra" and "Access Hollywood" Brenda Cooper. "But instead, it just draws attention to the waist." No one but you will appreciate that you've cinched a 42-inch belt around your 44-inch waist and everyone will notice if your gut is hanging over your leather. Let your belt out an extra notch. It may hurt your ego, but it will help your look.

Try for Broad Appeal: Emphasizing your shoulders de-emphasizes your gut. Try draping a bright or lightly colored sweater or cardigan over your shoulders with the sleeves loosely tied around your midsection, advises Scott Studenberg, host of "Lust for Looks"(www.lustforlooks.tv). "Broadening your shoulders will make the larger parts below look smaller, since the eyes will be drawn up and away." Even a T-shirt's details can help; make sure your shirt's seam lines up with the tops of your shoulders to ensure that it drapes correctly.

Dress to Your Shoes: Your footwear shouldn't be overlooked when dressing. An impressive pair of kicks can make the outfit (and draw attention away from other parts of it). Whether in jeans and a shirt, or a suit, your look can go from dressy to sporty (read: "physically fit") to casual with a simple shoe change, such as the right pair of Chuck Taylors.

Lengthen the Pants: Adding half an inch to your pant legs could make up for an extra inch at your waist. "The right length will elongate your look," says Jamie Suh of Freedom is Natural Nirvana.

Soften Up: Pick out clothes in materials that are "fluid, soft, with movement to them," advises Cooper. "Collections from designers like Tommy Bahama drape over your body, softly molding themselves to your form to create a pleasing, flow-y image." Wearing comfortable clothes won't just appeal to your sense of touch -- it'll also appeal to others' sense of sight.

Go Monochromatic: Ever been physically attracted to a plump waiter? Of course not -- so avoid the white shirt-black pants combo and instead match dark pants or jeans with a comparably dark shirt. "You don't want a visible break at the waist," says Cooper. "That's where you don't want attention."

Remember the Classics: Big guys have trouble pulling off cutting edge. For them, the oldies are often goodies for pulling off an impressive look. "Ripped-up or distressed jeans have a tendency to look ridiculous or sloppy on someone large," says Cooper. Naturally, it would be similarly unwise to consider trendy pants tagged with "slim," "skinny" or "2 percent Lycra." Instead, try suits, button-down shirts and tailored pants.

Get Straight: Skip the airy pleats and tapered legs, and go for flat-front, straight-leg pants. According to Suh, "If your waist far exceeds your shoulders, a pair of straight-leg jeans will draw the eyes straight down and will look better than a pair of boot-cut jeans."

No Tuck: Forget whatever nonsense your mom instilled in you regarding the necessity of tucking in your shirt. As long as the shirt fits (not too tight, not too baggy), keeping it out of your pants is more flattering than tucking it in -- which will draw attention to your waist.

Darken Up: Whether you're wearing jeans and a tee, slacks and an oxford, or a suit and jacket, darker clothes will help slim your profile. All-black could be a bit intimidating, but black slacks or crisp, dark jeans paired with a similarly shaded shirt, sweater or jacket minimize the amount of light you reflect into the eyes of unwitting bystanders.

Keep the Pattern Simple: We all know horizontal stripes are a big no-no -- unless you're dressing as Rerun from "What's Happening" for a costume party. And definitely avoid loud prints, as "bold" pairs more readily with "big" than "beautiful." On the other hand, vertical stripes will lead the eyes up and down, rather than side to side, and solids are neutral. So remember to always opt for simple over splashy.

Make Friends with a Tailor: Excess fabric will add inches you don't need, so excise it with the help of a pro. "Most button-down shirts are made in just a few sizes, yet our bodies are all so different!" says Studenberg. "When shopping for a shirt, look for great fabric and details, and worry about the perfect fit at the tailor. Altering at the waist costs between $10 and $40 and will take at least 10 pounds off your midsection."

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Good (Enough) Housekeeping, By J. BAUMGARDNER, S. FELIX, C. FORTE, M.HOGAN, A. PRISCHAK, Posted: 2007-12-05 11:54:51

Don't have time to do a thorough clean? Don't worry. These simple 'Good Housekeeping' tricks will get your house sparkling fast. Bonus: Four Web-exclusive tips from the Good Housekeeping Research Institute cleaning pros.

Cut cleaning in half. Wash just the bottom part of a window. Forget the top, which is usually covered by a shade or a blind.

Blow it off. Use a hair dryer to speed-dust books, artwork, and figurines. Vacuum up whatever falls to the floor.

Seal in the shine. When Thanksgiving is over, place polished silver in a self-sealing plastic freezer bag (The Good Housekeeping Research Institute recommends Ziploc Double Guard Freezer Bags), press out the air, and close. This will help keep the pieces tarnish free.

Prep dirty dishes. Before you start cooking dinner, fill the sink with hot, soapy water. As you finish with each pan, stick it in the sink ¡ª cleanup will be much easier.

Vacuum selectively. Think high traffic: Run your machine in front of chairs, around the sides of the bed, and on the bottom or top two steps of the staircase (the steps that get dirtiest and the ones guests are most likely to see).

Banish pet hair. Grab an old pair of pantyhose, bunch them into a ball, and rub along upholstery to pick up pet hair. If your cat or dog constantly sheds, keep a Scotch-Brite Carpet Touch-Up Roller ($10 at mass merchandisers) handy for quick swipes across your sofa, drapes, etc.

Try the paper-towel shuffle. Spritz spray cleaner on two paper towels, put them under your bare feet, and slide around to spot-clean a dirty area on your kitchen floor.

Avoid a fouled-up fridge. Line crisper drawers with paper towels to catch drips and avoid scrubbing dried-on food later. Toss the towels when they're dirty and replace them with new ones.

Beat dusty blinds in an instant. All you have to do is close them in reverse ¡ª and no one will know!

Make your microwave self-clean. Bring a cup of water to boil in the oven; the steam will loosen dried-on particles. Then just wipe away.

Get rid of grime. Use a facial wipe to clean your skin ¡ª then use the wipe to clean your bathroom sink.

Dust your floors. Give floors a quick once-over with a wet towel before tossing the towel in the washer.

Make bed making easy. Freshen up your bed in a flash by replacing only the pillowcases.

Keep kitchen range burners spotless. Cover unused burners with pot lids to keep them from getting splashed while you're cooking.

5 Things People Really Notice
Unexpected guests? Here are the dead giveaways of a dirty house. Fool even your mother-in-law by taking care of:

1. Piles of mail: Hide them in an attractive basket with a lid, or keep one kitchen drawer empty for last-minute stashing.

2. Dust bunnies and cobwebs: Look high and low in the corners of the room where you'll be entertaining. Pull down cobwebs with a broom and pick up dust bunnies with a handheld vac.

3. A messy bathroom: Toss one of those blue drop-in cleaners into the toilet tank and no one will know that your bowl's not pristine. Quickly wipe down the sink and toilet seat and swipe the mirror with glass cleaner.

4. Dishes in the sink: Quickly move them to the dishwasher. Or, if that's full and you're desperate, rinse them off and stash them in the oven. Just don't forget to take them out, or the baked-on food will be really hard to clean.

5. Full trash cans: Empty any full waste bins into whatever large-capacity can is out of sight.

Hide Your Sins: These home accessories and furniture items will help you conceal clutter and keep your home looking clean.

Smart Storage: A 2-cabinet, walnut-finish bench opens up to stash toys, books, clothes, or whatever else is strewn on the floor when your friends call to say they're right around the corner. At Target, $119.

Washable Paint: A must-have for kids' rooms, this special paint type lets you wipe blemishes from the walls. We like Ace Sensations brand with Scotchgard Protector, which won a Good Housekeeping Research Institute Good Buy Award. Our tests revealed that you can scrub away crayon, grease, ink, and more from this flat latex paint without damaging the finish. From Ace Paint, $25.

Stain-Resistant Slipcovers: Chris Madden's quilted version wins the cleaning triple crown: It has a special finish that protects the fabric from spills, its rich burgundy color disguises dirt, and, of course, it's machine washable. At JCPenney, $109.

Dark-Colored Towels and Bath Mats: Let go of your love affair with white linens: Royal blue, plum, forest green, gray ¡ª these are the shades that keep your bathroom looking fresh.

Patterned Rugs: Dirt and stains are hard to detect on a patterned, dark-colored rug. Opt for one with a pretty floral or leaf design ¡ª we like the ones above, from Crate and Barrel (top, from $299) and JCPenney (bottom, from $24).

Nonpleated Lampshades: Never dust a lampshade again. Choose smooth versions and you'll avoid dirt buildup.

Your Cleaning Timetable

Sheets -- Greg Causey, Wamsutta sheet merchandise manager at Springs Global. How Often Should You Clean/Wash...? Every 2 weeksWhy? You want to avoid dust mites.Cleaning Confession "I'm ashamed to say it, but I probably went a month and a half in college without changing the sheets (especially during baseball season)."

Blinds -- Angela Watkins, owner of Yosemite Mountain Mini-Blinds How Often Should You Clean/Wash...? Once a yearWhy? Dust that collects on blinds can trigger allergies.Cleaning Confession "I'm a neat freak, so the longest I've gone without cleaning my blinds is one month."

Computer keyboard -- Sean Butterworth, keyboard product marketing manager at Microsoft How Often Should You Clean/Wash...? Every two weeks, clean your keyboard with a damp wipe; every three months, use compressed air (available at office supply stores).Why? One study revealed that there is 400 times more bacteria on a desk and keyboard than on a toilet seat.Cleaning Confession "I've gone a few weeks without cleaning my keyboard."

Bras -- Anne DiGiovanna, vice president of marketing at Warneco Intimate Apparel (maker of Olga, Warners, and Calvin Klein bras) How Often Should You Clean/Wash...? After every two wearingsWhy? In just a couple of wearings, a bra can develop an odor and even discolor.Cleaning Confession "I admit it: I've worn a bra maybe even five times without washing it."

Shower -- Michael Wandschnieder, senior product manager for Performance Showering at Kohler Co. How Often Should You Clean/Wash...? At least once a weekWhy? Mildew can stain the shower's grout.Cleaning Confession "I went close to three weeks without cleaning my shower when I was a bachelor."

Tools for the Lazy Cleaner

A variety of new products claim to take the elbow grease out of scrubbing and dusting. How well do they perform? To find out, the Good Housekeeping Research Institute put these grime-fighters to the test. Here, the results ¡ª plus a handy cleaning tool you won't read about in the magazine:

Hands-Free Mop: The iRobot Scooba ($300; 800-727-9077; irobot.com) is a robot that takes care of your kitchen, foyer, or any sealed hard floor area. The Scooba first picks up dirt; then it washes the floor with water and a Clorox cleaner; finally, it squeegees and dries the floor. It takes about 45 minutes for the Scooba to finish an average-size kitchen floor.

Erase the Mess: Crayon on walls, scuffs on floors, even dried-out refrigerator spills wipe up easily with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo ($3; 800-248-1612; mrclean.com). This item is a two-sided cleaner that's the size of a sponge. Dampen the white side to erase messes; use the blue side to soak up any soil or drips.

Clean Your Shower Automatically: If cleaning the shower or tub is a headache, try the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner ($25; 800-558-5252; automaticshowercleaner.com). You hang the gadget from your showerhead and turn it on right after you step out of the shower. In 15 seconds, the shower cleaner will spray the walls and tub with a solution that dissolves soap scum and mildew stains, working with the water left behind. So there's no need to scour or wipe ¡ª plus it really extends the time between serious shower cleanings.

Cut Through Greasy Dishes: To get crusty cookware clean without scrubbing, drop a Grease Bullet tablet ($10 for 12; 800-261-9131; greasebullet.com) into a sink of hot water and soak the items for a half hour. In Good Housekeeping Research Institute tests, pans covered with stuck-on hamburger, mac and cheese, and baked beans wiped clean. Plus, testers found the super-cleaner easy to use.

Remove Carpet Stains: One of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute's favorite new products is the Woolite Pod (Portable Oxy Deep, $4; 800-451-7847; woolitecarpet.com). It's a handy, handheld carpet-cleaning tool that's about the size of a computer mouse. The Woolite Pod contains a stain-removal formula that clears away spots as you scrub and groom the rug. In the Institute's tests, coffee and wine stains vanished, while the carpet stayed soft and fluffy. Caveat: For best results, blot the excess stain before using.

Extra-Gripper Gloves: Slipping your hands into a pair of superthick Grab & Dry gloves ($15; 310-826-2636; grabdry.com) can help you get a better grip on slippery dishes and finish the job faster than with a kitchen towel. One drawback: Testers had trouble reaching down into the bottoms of tall glasses.

Super Sweeper: No matter how many times you sweep, it seems as though you're always left with a line of dirt in front of your dustpan. Ditch the mess with Powerpan Cordless Dust Pan Vacuum ($20; 800-982-5233; readivac.com). In tests, it sucked up the dust nearly one-third faster than a traditional broom and pan.

Lighten Your Load: If you feel like you're drowning in laundry, you're not alone ¡ª the average American family does six loads per week. To make this dreaded chore less painful, try these tricks and favorite products.

Top Time-Savers:
If the dryer buzzed yesterday and now the load is cold and wrinkled, throw in a clean, wet bath towel and tumble the items on medium heat for 10 minutes.

Left clothes in the washer and now the load smells like wet dog? Set the washer to the rinse cycle and as it fills, add a cup of white vinegar.

To dry a damp load faster, add a dry bath towel.

Keep a stain-remover stick in a kitchen drawer so you can treat food spills immediately.

Add 1/2 cup of baking soda along with your detergent to boost cleaning power ¡ª it helps soften the wash water, and detergents work better in softer water.

Put a laundry bag or a hamper in every clothes closet. If your closets are full, try an over-the-door bag.

When washing and drying delicates or stuffed animals, first place them in a pillowcase and close the end with a ponytail holder.

Smart Ideas from You: "I have never found anything as effective as dishwashing liquid in getting rid of grease stains on fabric. Just rub a little in and toss the garment in the machine ¡ª it works every time! I use Ajax Lemon."
¡ªJanet Kearns, Minneapolis

"My daughter and her husband were repainting their house and got paint everywhere. Goof Off took the dried paint out of their clothes."
¡ªChris McNally, Philadelphia

"Do your whites before bed: Fill the washer with hot water, detergent, and bleach; let clothes soak overnight. In the morning, finish with two rinse cycles."
¡ªMegan Kennedy, Lexington, KY

"I rarely iron anything because I put washed clothes in the dryer for no more than 15 minutes and then let them line-dry."
¡ªLola Duncan, Saraland, AL

"I put bras and other items I don't want to dry into mesh laundry bags. That way, I don't have to sort after washing ¡ª I simply pull out the bag."
¡ªWallance Lee, Honolulu

Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/organizing/good-enough-housekeeping-oct06

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Homeless & Loving it. Home is where the backpack(s) are!! AARP EM, dtd: 11/29/07

Sell your home and volunteer around the world. At Home in the World. Many retirees travel, but few actually sell their home and become globetrotters for good.

Homestays with local families, arrange through "People to People International" and "Servas International," which which will give you a glimpses of real life in the countries you visit.

Housesitting¡¯s popularity has spawned a cottage industry of websites advertising diverse opportunities, from villas in Tuscany to ranches in the western US.

Considering caretaking? Here are 5 important questions to ask before taking a housesitting position.
1. What are the exact dates of the assignment? Establishing beginning and ending dates enables both parties to confirm travel plans, especially important when buying airline tickets. Vague plans can leave people stranded, pets on their own and homes unattended.

2. What are the specific responsibilities and how many hours a day do they entail? Agreeing in advance on the duties will help ensure that the tasks get done. Ask for written instructions for pet care to avoid pet illness resulting from improper diet or care.

3. How are emergencies handled? If heating or plumbing systems fail, you will want an emergency contact list in hand.

4. Who pays the utilities bills? For shorter-term housesits, the homeowner generally pays. Longer-term arrangements vary. Keep in mind the high cost of gas in Europe and that in rustic environs you might have to chop your own firewood. Ask to see previous utilities bills. If the homeowner hedges, think twice.

5. Can the homeowner provide the names of previous caretakers with whom you can speak? Your predecessor can give you the real scoop. If the homeowner demurs, proceed cautiously.

Here are some Web resources to help you get started:

"The Caretaker Gazette," a Texas-based e-list, also available by snail mail, that includes about 150 international caretaking availabilities and caretaker ads per issue, many in the US. Homeowners pay to place ads; prospective caretakers pay a subscription fee.
Subscription: $29.95/one year (six issues); $49.95/two years; $69.95/three years.

"HouseCarers.com," an Australia-based website posts housesitting opportunities around the world.

"HousseSit World," an Australia-based international directory that is accessed by country. House sitters pay a membership fee to place a profile and location preferences; homeowners advertise for free. Subscription: $40/one year.

"SabbaticalHomes," a site that posts several hundred availabilities worldwide for academics on sabbatical. There is no membership. Homeowners pay $25 to post properties (nonacademics, $45); house sitters post their ads for free.

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Do-it-yourself: Stop junk mail, email and phone calls. A free guide to reducing unwanted or intrusive advertising.

Junk mail may seem as inevitable as death and taxes, but with a little patience there are effective ways to tackle the problem. This guide provides clear, simple and proven reduction techniques. About 20 minutes investment now will clear the junk for between two and five years.

General Techniques
Your name, address, and buying habits are a commodity that is regularly sold & traded on the open market. These days organizations you deal with virtually all sell your name unless you specifically ask them to stop. Here are some general techniques:

Whenever you donate money, order a product or service, or fill out a warranty card, write in large letters, "Please do not sell my name or address". Most organizations will properly mark your name in the computer.

Product warranty cards are are often used to collection information on your habits and income, for the sole purpose of targeting direct mail. They are not required in most situations - avoid sending them.

On the telephone, ask "Please mark my account so that my name is not traded or sold to other companies."

Your credit card company probably sells your name the most often. Call them and ask them to stop.
"Contests" where you fill in a little entry blank are almost always fishing expeditions for names. If you fill one out at a football game, for example, expect to get a catalog of football merchandise within a few months. Avoid these if you don't want the mail.

Select a false middle name or initial for each charity or business you deal with. Keep track of which letter goes with which organization. You can also select a false road designator, "avenue, place, circle, street, highway, parkway, etc.". This step can be very revealing. Some guides recommend changing the spelling of your name, but this can lead to duplicate mailings.

To stop specific types of unwanted paper mail
The amount of paper junk mail sent each year in the USA is staggering -- some 4 million tons, nearly half of which is never opened. Even if you recycle there are still enormous environmental costs in terms of ink, energy to produce deliver and recycle the paper, recycling inefficiencies and loss of virgin forest to create the high quality glossy paper much junk mail uses. There is a lot you can do to reduce the cost to the environment and your own time:

First class mail: Cross out the address and bar code, circle the first class postage and write "refused: return to sender". Drop in any mail box, it will be returned to the sender.
Bulk mail: The post office throws away bulk mail it can't deliver, so returning it does no good. Bulk mail is the hardest to deal with because the USPS actively provides addresses, support and encouragement to mailers. However, if "address correction requested" is written on the label: circle "address correction requested" and treat like first class mail.

Sexually Oriented Advertising (SOA):The only help you'll get from the Post Office in controlling junk mail is for explicit stuff. Fill out USPS forms 1500 if you wish this type of mail to stop. You define what you find to be explicit -- if that's an automobile parts catalog the post office won't disagree with you.
Credit offers: The major credit agencies all sell aggregate credit information any bidder. Direct mail and credit companies generate mail based on demographics including zip code, income band and credit payment patterns. Stopping this is easy, you just need your address, former address within two years, and social security number. One call does it all for agencies Equifax, Trans Union, Experian and Innovis. Dial 1-888-5 OPT OUT (or 1-888-567-8688) 24 hours a day.

Catalogs:
Call the company's 800 number and have the label handy.
Write your instructions on the mailing label and fax it to the company. Mark "ATTN: customer service."

Tear off the label, write your instructions on it, and enclose in the postage-paid ordering envelope. Mark envelope "ATTN: customer service". This method is the least effective.
AOL (America On-Line): You could pave the nation with the free discs these people send out, call 1-800-605-4297 (24 hours a day) to get off the list. Tell them your first name is "current", last name "resident".

Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes: You can get the Clearinghouse to stop clogging your mailbox by contacting customer service at 1-800-645-9242 (8:30 am to 8:30 EST), sending a fax to 1-800-453-0272, mailing to 101 Channel Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050, or you can send email to pch@ant.net. PCH will remove any number of names from a specific address, but you have to list each name exactly and insist nicely.

American Family Sweepstakes: Ed McMahon and Dick Clark will stop telling you "You have definitely won 11 million dollars (maybe) " if you call them at 1-800-237-2400. AFP is a division of Time-Warner.

Local business & supermarket fliers: All mailings must be identified, by postal regulations. Each lose-leaf bundle of fliers, by postal regulations, must be delivered at the same time as an address card. Locate this address card; the cards usually have an advertisement and a photograph of a missing child. Call directory assistance to get the phone number of the sender, and call to get off the list:

ADVO (Mail comes with pictures of missing children). Call 1-860-285-6100 to get off the list. You may have to send a postcard to "ADVO Consumer Assistance, POB 249, Windsor CT 06095-4176."

Val-Pak Coupons: click the link and fill out the form - easy, but don't give them your email address.

Carol Wright Call 1-800-67-TARGET to get off the list.

Your local newspaper & supermarket (look for a phone number on the piece).

Most senders are professional companies which will handle your request politely. "ADVO Mailbox Values" and "Harte Hanks Potpourri" are the most common of these mailers. Your local supermarket's monthly coupon books may be handled by these companies, so be sure to specify if you want to continue to receive those. Your letter carrier is accustomed to giving each house a bundle, so you may also need to inform him or her of your action separately. The post office is prohibited by law from delivering unaddressed mail, so you should have little trouble convincing the carrier.

Too much junk to deal with individually: Start by sending a postcard or letter to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 15012-0643 Include your complete name, address, zip code and a request to "activate the preference service". For up to five years, this will stop mail from all member organizations that you have not specifically ordered products from.

The Direct Marketing Association estimates that listing with their mail preference service will stop 75% of all national mailings. They process 50,000 requests a month and requests are kept active for five years. If you fill out the post office change of address form, the DMA will track the new address (you'll get a few months of mailings to the new address before they catch up to you). It can take up to six mont