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More Hot Tips from April May

       To reduce static electricity on your television screen and computer screens, wipe them with one of those little fabric softener sheets that go in the dryer. After all, the sheets are also designed to help eliminate static cling.

       What will termites do if you play rock music to them? Answer: They double the pace at which they chew through wood. But there’s a better way than that to tell termites from flying ants. First, ants have pinched waists, but termites have abdomens that are joined to their bodies without stems. A second distinguishing characteristic is that flying ants have two sets of wings of different sizes. Termites’ wings are all about the same size. A third way to tell ants from termites is that ants’ antennae have an "elbow" in the middle, while the termites have almost straight antennae. And yet another way to be sure which is which: since only the king and queen termites have wings, look around to see if there are any worker termites in the same area. Workers are light-colored, and they don’t look anything like ants.

       Next year, when Tax Time approaches, keep track of all your year-end statements. Homeowners will get notices of tax payments and deductible interest charges. Investors will get year-end financial statements they will need for reporting income. W-2 forms will arrive in the mail at the end of this month. Start your tax folder now. Let these vital papers not vanish before tax time.

       Going out of town for more than a few days?See to these chores before you leave home: adjust the settings on your climate control system; turn the water heater to its lowest setting; unplug the TV, VCR, computer, stereo, and microwave. If your refrigerator has an energy-saver switch, use that before you go. And remember to turn off water to the washing machine. A broken hose could cause a flood that could make you sorry to come home!

       It's easier to spend than save. So to help you conserve that valuable re$ource, here are a few suggestions from the Consumer Literacy Consortium's 66 Ways to Save Money. For example, the next time you have to buy a big appliance, especially an air conditioner, furnace, or hot water heater, you can save big bucks on electricity every year if you choose the most energy-efficient models. How do you know what's efficient? The law says every new appliance must have an Energy Guide Label. Read and compare.

       Another suggestion: find out whether your local phone service is on a flat or measured rate, then compare the two prices to see which service plan saves you money. Check your bill to see if you have optional services that you don't really need or use. Dropping an unused option or two could save you real cash over the course of a year. (To spend on prezzies for you and those you love!) Another hint: You'll usually save money by buying your phones instead of leasing them.

       Save by making your long distance calls in the evenings, at night, or on weekends rather than at daytime rates. (Of course!) And if you make quite a few LD calls every month, you should be on some kind of calling plan. But don't just choose the one with the best TV ads! Before you sign up, call several LD services and find out which one costs the least for the kind of calls you make. Whenever possible, dial your long distance calls directly. Operator-assist calls are soooo expensive!

       Here's a biggie: credit card interest can cost you hundreds — maybe thousands. You can spend more on fun and toys if you pay off your entire bill each month and skip those nasty interest charges. If the balance is just too big, pay as much as you can and transfer your balance to a card with a lower annual percentage rate (APR). But be watchful — some bait and switch cards start you at a low rate and boost it in just a few months. Another way to save is by using a no-fee card. The annual fees on a pocket full of cards can cost you $100 or more a year. Last but not least, pay on time! Interest and late payment charges are money out of your pocket with nothing to show for it!

Good tips for great grilling!

1. Preheat the for 10 to 15 minutes with the lid down and the burners set on high.
2. Scrape hot grates clean with a grill brush.
3. For most cooking, set burners to high or medium-high for proper searing.
4. Close the lid of the grill to concentrate heat.
5. Use highest heat to sear those good thick steaks and burgers, then turn down the heat to finish cooking.
6. Don't just guess when the food is done. Stick a quick-read thermometer into the sides of steaks and chops or into the thickest section of burgers and chicken parts.
7. Call family and friends to the table, and then — YUM! Time to eat!

       At last! A way to sidestep the problem of mailing to people on the move: If you are addressing a package or letter to the old address, use the new address as the return. If they've already moved, they'll get it by return mail, and the delay of remailing is more than cut in half!

       Is there a bottle of ancient aspirin in your medicine cabinet? If it smells like vinegar or crumbles easily — time to toss it out.

       Dentists warn that starchy snacks can be as bad for your teeth as candy. The remains of sticky caramels stay on your teeth for less than two minutes — but crackers can last up to five minutes!

       Roam? Or Work at Home? They're everywhere — in the newspaper, on the Internet,on the television and pasted on store windows and street lamps.Ads for work-at-home opportunities may look appealing, but are theyall they promise to be? Not necessarily. Learn more withWork-at-Home Schemes from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Find out about classic schemes, and questions you should ask to find realopportunities. This publication costs fifty cents. For your copy, please call the Federal Consumer Information Center, in Pueblo, Colorado, toll-free, at 1-888-8-PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256) and ask for Item 377-J. Have your credit card handy. Or send your name, address and a check or money order for fifty cents to the Federal Consumer Information Center, Dept. 377J, Pueblo, CO 81009.

       If your car bounces three or more times when you cross a dip in the road or when you stop suddenly, your shock absorbers may need attention. Another sign -- when the car leans or sways when you change lanes quickly or take a tight curve. Worn shocks or struts can affect steering and even cause the car to brake less efficiently.

       Stressbusters: a spare car key in your wallet, an extra house key in an accessible spot, a roll of stamps. Make lists of things you must do. And keep up your appointment calendar.

       Halogen lamps are such hotties that they can cause fires. For that reason, all halogen floor lamps must now be shielded by a wire or glass guard over the bulb, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you already own a halogen lamp with an unshielded bulb, you can get information about receiving a free guard to fit it by calling 800-985-2220.

        To be covered by the Fair Credit Billing Act, contested credit card bills must be reported in writing within 60 days of the postmark on your statement. Keep copies of what you send. While your claim is being investigated, you don’t have to pay the disputed portion of the bill — but you do need to pay the rest of the charges. During the wait, however, the charge is not a delinquent debt.

       What do you tip on a trip? The American Society of Travel Agents offers these guidelines for normal service: The cabin steward on a cruise ship should probably get from $3 to $3.50 per person per day. In general, tip doormen $1 for hailing a cab, airport skycaps a minimum of $1 per bag, and bellhops about $10 for bringing you to your room with lots of luggage. As for waiters, wine stewards, bartenders, and room service waiters . . . each one gets 15% of his or her bill. (Or more for extra service or at very expensive places.)

       Don't eat the bulbs! They look a lot like onions, but most flowering bulbs are toxic -- some violently so. So keep daffodils, jonquils, narcissus, tulips, and other bulbs out of the reach of children, and never store them in or near the kitchen!

       How long before you can access that deposit? Federal law says that cashier's checks, government checks, and cash deposits must all be available for use on the next business day. However, banks are allowed two days to credit you with a cashier's check for more than $5,000 and five days if the check is drawn on an out-of-state bank.

        Disposable diapers or cloth diapers? Consumers Union notes that disposables cost parents between $1,500 and $2,100 a year, so buying (and laundering) cloth diapers is less expensive. But disposables do a better job of keeping babies dry, and they are less likely to spread germs. And each type has about the same impact on the environment. So take your pick.


     OK, that's really all, folks! Unless you want to read the EXCEEDINGLY OLD Tips.
A.M.