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Useful Tips
Every so often, we come across interesting bits of useful information. We offer these tips to our clients and friends who are looking for ways to simplify their lives.
If you have a useful tip, send it to us. We always enjoy hearing from you!
Tip # 21 Take your name off the mailing lists once and for all!
Tired of all the catalogs clogging your mailbox? Want to help save the environment? This looks like an excellent service…and it’s FREE!
Here is a way you can stop unwanted mailings. Catalog Choice, is a project of three environmental organizations: National Wildlife Federation, The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Ecology Center. Catalog Choice provides a convenient way for people to remove their names from specific mailing lists. Go to www.catalogchoice.org to register for a free log-in, check off catalogs from a list of more than 1000 that you don't want anymore and Catalog Choice will forward the information to the companies. You get to keep the catalogs you want to continue to receive and merchants who really don't want to send expensive catalogs to consumers who are unhappy receiving them will delist your name. This is a win-win for all concerned.
Tip # 20 Have a little fun with your mail
Have a new baby or want to share pictures of your puppy, how about that classic car or your new house. Go to PhotoStamps.com to create your personalized postage stamps. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s fun.
Tip # 19 Make it a Family Night Sit Back, Relax take a deep breath and enjoy your family.
We all get caught up in “life” - working too many hours, rushing here and there, dinners on the run, up at dawn and too many late nights. Make it a plan to have a family night at least once a week. Below are some ideas for things you can do with your family:
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Cook dinner together – Then enjoy it by sitting down together and talking about your day.
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Movie night – Instead of renting a movie, make a batch of popcorn and dig up some of your old home movies.
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Play a game – Playing games can be a great family activity they can be fun as well as educational. Scrabble can help with spelling, Checkers or Chess can teach strategy and patience. Concentration can help with memory.
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Family Newsletter – Write a Your Family Newsletter then send it to your family to let them know what you have been up to.
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Volunteer as a Family – Working together as a family to help others will bring great satisfaction to everyone in your family.
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Backyard Campout – Breakout the camping gear, fire-up the camp stove and have an old fashioned cookout and camp overnight in your own backyard.
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Make a Family Cookbook – Gather all of your favorite family recipes, Grandma’s Apple Pie, Aunt Thelma’s famous homemade Potato Salad…..then give it as a gift to other family members.
Tip # 18 Learn To Dance
If you want to impress your family and friends at the next wedding or family reunion, or just want to get more exercise - take dance lessons. Dancing is a great way to get in shape, build confidence and increase self-esteem. Doctors have recommended dancing for years as a great way to stay in shape and keep a sharp mind.
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Calories - Dancing can burn as many calories as walking, swimming or riding a bicycle. During a half hour of sustained dancing you can burn between 200 and 400 calories.
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Cardiovascular conditioning - Regular exercise can lead to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and an improved cholesterol profile.
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Strong bones - The side-to-side movements of many dances strengthen your weight bearing bones and can help prevent or slow loss of bone mass.
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Rehabilitation - If you're recovering from heart or knee surgery, movement may be part of your rehabilitation. Dancing is a positive alternative to aerobic dance or jogging.
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Sociability - Dancing contains a social component that solitary fitness endeavors don't.
Tip # 17 Donate a Car Online!
Avoid the Hassle of Trying to Sell a Used Car. No more placing expensive ads, taking phone calls, scheduling appointments and meeting with strangers in your home, or price haggling with a dealer.
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Free Pick Up Nationwide - When you donate your car to our charity, we come to your home or office - running or not in most cases.
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Tax Deductible - Our auto donation center provides you with all the documentation and receipt.
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No Paperwork Hassle - Avoid confusing Department of Motor Vehicles paperwork or Smog hassles - We do it all: DMV, smog, etc. Just submit your Donate a Car Online! and we will take care of everything else.
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Save Money on Car Bills - Avoid repair, insurance, and registration costs by donating your car.
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We accept Cars, Boats, Trucks, Vans, RVs, Trailers and more!
This is just one of many organizations that provide this type of service. Make sure you research to find the organization that best suits your needs in your area.
Tip # 16 New Computer - Now What?
Now that you have that new computer - how do you use it? Your computer can be very powerful tool whether for personal or business use. But, it's of no use to you if you don’t know how to use it. You can manage your check book; keep track of your favorite recipes, finally organize your Christmas list or run your Home Business. You might want to think about taking a computer class at your local community college. The costs for these classes are reasonable and are usually held once or twice a week. A computer can be major investments so don’t let it sit idle on your desk.
If you have a SBDC (Small Business Development Center) in your area, they may offer workshops for a minimal fee.
Tip # 15 Comforting after the loss of a loved one
Unfortunately in our lives we will all know someone who will suffer the loss of a loved one. After the services are over, the friends and family have gone home and the flowers have long wilted – the reality of loss begins to settle in. Comfort Baskets® offers thoughtful sympathy gifts for men, women, and children. Visit ComfortBaskets.com to see the full section. Baskets can be ordered on line or by calling:
Comfort Baskets, Inc.
65 Highlawn Rd
Brattleboro, Vt. 05301
Ph: 802.257.1600
Toll Free: 866.530.2468
Tip # 14 Painting your house - the Secerets of Pro Painters
Want to paint like a pro? Here are 7 tips to help you with your home improvement project:
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Load it right - Ideally, you want as much paint on the brush as you can control without making drips or blobs.
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Cut in close - When cutting in on a wall, load the brush and spread out the excess paint, then work the brush up to the line between the wall and ceiling.
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Work top down - After painting the ceiling, work from the top down: Start with the crown molding, then do the walls and then paint the casement molding around the windows and doors.
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Double-check work - Between coats you'll want to back-prep, or sand off any bumps, before applying the next coat.
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Do doors right - If you have a paneled door, start with the panels and work from the outside edges in toward the center.
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Skip daily cleaning - For two-day jobs, wrap the rollers and brushes in plastic grocery bags and stick them in the refrigerator.
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Expect touch-ups - Accidents happen. Keep a cheap sponge brush on hand to blend a patch with the rest of the wall or woodwork.
To read more visit thisoldhouse.com
Tip #13 Tips for Traveling Abroad offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consumer Affairs
If you are traveling abroad here are the top 10 tips you need to make your trip easier:
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Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport!
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Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.
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Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.
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Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.
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Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
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Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.
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Prior to your departure, you should register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website . Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts may not be released without your express authorization. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States.
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To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.
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In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.
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If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.
You can also visit U.S. Department of State for more information.
Tip #12 De-Clutter your home or office
A place for everything, everything in its place, is this how you wish your home or your office was?
Here are 4 simple solutions to your clutter.
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Everything has its place – Everything in your home or office should have its own home. A place where it is kept when not in use. When you are done using something, return it to its home right away. Putting it away immediately will save you the time and frustration of looking for it the next time you need it.
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Give it away – If you have something that you never use get rid of it, give it so someone who can make good use of it or donate it to your favorite organization.
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Sell it – Have a yard sale, take it to a consignment shop, or try an online auction company like Craig’s List or E-Bay.
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Toss it – If you no longer have use for an item and you don’t know of anyone who can use it, throw it away! Don’t hang onto it just because you “think” you may use it some day…….
Tip #11 What to Keep and How Long
Have you ever wondered how long you need to keep those boxes of “Important Papers” you are storing in your basement or attic? Here's a list of what to keep, where to keep it, and for how long. To view the complete list, go to Housekeeping.about.com.
Papers to Keep Permanently
- Advance Directive - (living will/durable power of attorney for health care) Store copies in your home file, safe deposit box, and copies with your agents. Update as needed.
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- Real Estate Records - Store in a safe deposit box or fireproof home storage. These include real property deeds, title papers, abstracts, mortgage and lien documents, tax assessment notices, purchase contracts, and records of capital improvements. Be sure to include any rental properties.
- Inventory of Household Goods and Appraisals - Store in a safe deposit box with a copy in your home file. This should be updated at least once a year.
- Social Security Card - In the past, we were told to carry our card with us, but the SSA now advises that the card not be carried with us, unless we are using it to show an employer or for other specific identification purposes. Store in fireproof home storage.
- Citizenship and Naturalization Papers - Store in a safe deposit box or fireproof storage for the
home.
Items to Keep Temporarily
Cancelled Checks - Store in your home file if they are non-tax deductible spending. Keep for a minimum of three years.
Passports - Store in home storage or safe deposit box until they are replaced.
Savings Certificates - Store in a safe deposit box and listed in your valuable papers inventory in the home file. Keep for the duration of your ownership or longer if needed for tax purposes, frequently six years.
Tip #10 Your Pet’s Emergency Kit
Many of us already have an emergency kit and plan for our families, but what about the other members of our families, our beloved pets?
Do you have an emergency kit and plan for them?
Here’s what you need to do to prepare your pet for disasters.
Before a Disaster Strikes:
Take photos of each animal, include any distinguishing marks. Store the photos along with medical records in re-sealable plastic bags along with other important papers.
Keep a properly fitted collar, current license, and rabies and identification tags on each pet, even cats that never go outside. Birds should be leg-banded.
Determine the best place to leave your pet in case of a disaster. Identify a place in your home to leave your pet as well as an off-site location in case of evacuation.
Have an emergency 72-hour kit for each pet. Familiarize your pet with the kit’s carrier or cage before an emergency.
To see these tips, find out what to include in your pets 72-hour emergency kit, and what to do during and after a disaster please visit http://www.tips4me.com, under “Latest Updates” click on “ Your Pet’s Emergency Kit.”
Tip #9 Five fast e-mail productivity tips
If you find yourself spending too much time reading and responding to e-mails here are 5 tips that may help free up your time for more important tasks:
- Shut off auto-check - Either turn off automatic checking completely, or set it to something reasonable, like every 20 minutes or so. If you’re doing anything with new email more than every few minutes, you might want to rethink your approach.
- Pick off easy ones - If you can retire an email with a 1-2 line response do it now. Get it off your plate, and get back to work.
- Write less - Stop imagining that every e-mail needs to be a novel. Get better at just keeping the conversation moving by responding quickly and with short actions in the reply. Ask for more information, pose a question, or just say “I don’t know.”
- Cheat - Use something like MailTemplate to help manage answers to frequent email subjects. Templates let you create and use boilerplate responses to the questions and requests to which you usually find yourself drafting identical replies over and over from scratch. At least use a template as a basis for your response, and then customize it for that person or situation.
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Be honest - If you know in your heart that you’re never going to respond to an email, get it out of sight, archive it, or just delete it. Guilt will not make you more responsive two months from now, otherwise, you’d just do it now, right? Trust your instincts, listen to them, and stop trying to be perfect.
Tip #8 Turn your old computer into a charitable donation
If a new computer is on your wish list this holiday, you might think about donating your old model to charity. Making a computer donation allows you to reclaim some value from older electronic equipment and take a deduction on your income taxes. But like other noncash donations, giving up your computer isn't as easy as hauling your hardware to the nearest Goodwill.
- Before you donate, assess the value of your computer. You can find the value by checking Internet auction Web sites or even computer manufacturer Web sites. You can also pay $4 for an appraisal by Orion Blue Book, an industry authority on market values, at www.OrionBlueBook.com.
- Deductions are valid only for gifts to a recognized charity, meaning it has IRS approval to register as a tax-exempt organization. Before you donate, check out the charity at www.CharityNavigator.com.
- You might also check out The Used Computer Mall at www.UsedComputer.com. The Web site lists charities that accept new or used computer equipment. It also provides recycling guidelines in case your computer is a real dinosaur -- too old to go anywhere but the recycling bin.
- Remember to erase all the files from your computer's hard drive before you donate. At best, others will laugh at the poetry and E-mails you saved. At worst, you could be a victim of identity theft. Look for so-called disk-cleaning software, which will clear your computer's hard drive.
Be sure to get a receipt for your donation from the charity. You'll need it to take the deduction come tax time.
Tip #7 Become a gourmet cook
Getting ready for the holidays and wondering how to refresh your standard menus? Planning a dinner party and want to make something that will wow your guests? Not sure what to do with that bushel of apples you bought at the farm stand?
Check out epicurious.com for exotic new recipes – or variations on your “tried and true” favorites. You can see photos of most of the recipes, find out which wine works best with your selection, and even read reviews – often with suggestions for how to make the dish even better.
Tip #6 Reduce the junk in your mailbox
If you want to cut down on the amount of direct mail you get, send a postcard or letter to:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association (DMA)
PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512
Be sure to include your name, home address, and signature. For a $5 fee, you can get on the DMA's "off mailing" list online at: http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist.
Putting yourself on the list should dramatically reduce the commercial mail you receive. Except for local third-class mail addressed to "homeowner," you will get no more catalogs or correspondence from businesses looking for new clients -- including mail you might be interested in.
You can be more selective about the direct mail you get simply by not responding to offers you don't want. Keep in mind that direct mail is expensive. And direct-marketing
businesses don't want to spend money on sending mail to people who won't respond to it. If you don't respond to their offers, they'll remove you from their mailing lists themselves.
Tip# 5 Get hip to the weather and more
Interested in knowing the weather trends for the year? Want some guidance on how and when to plant your garden? Looking for recipes for some of the old family favorites? The Farmers' Almanac offers advice on these topics - and more. And now you can visit them on-line at www.farmersalmanac.com.
Tip #4 Buy your postage online
Tired of waiting in long lines at the post office, especially during the holiday season? Can you imagine being able to get the postage you need by printing it out from your personal computer. This convenience is now a reality! Check out www.usps.com for information on how to get set up for this.
Tip #3 Send an extraordinary gift
Why send ordinary flowers, gift baskets, or chocolate gifts when you could send an extraordinary gift?
If you ever struggle with decisions about the right gift to send or where to go for the best selections, www.netique.com is for you.
It offers effortless gift-giving, with a wonderful selection of gifts for everyone on your list. Just place your order and they do the rest, including gift-wrap, preparing the enclosure card and shipping.
Tip #2 Remember special events
Do you often find yourself in the “belated birthday” section of your local card shop? Never miss another birthday again with the help of birthdayalarm.com. They take the hassle out of trying to remember the dates of friends’ and relatives’ special days. Log on to www.birthdayalarm.com and follow the simple instructions to register. You have the option of recording the dates yourself, or e-mailing friends and having them record their information directly.
You will be alerted twice prior to each date listed, once at 7 days and again at 3 days. By going to the site, you can send a free e-card or you can opt to send flowers, though there is a charge for this. Birthdayalarm.com also offers a subscription service that will send reminders directly to your cell phone.
No more excuses! Remember the people you care about.
Tip #1 Take care of your car
Do you have trouble remembering when your automobile maintenance and repairs are due?
Log on to www.carcare.com for a quick and easy solution. Their proprietary software allows you to track the times and mileage of your maintenance needs for your vehicles. And, their service is free of charge! You are busy enough as it is; they’ll remind you via e-mail when it is time to do common maintenance items on your car such as:
· Change your oil
· Rotate your tires
· Change your tires
· Have a tune-up
· Renew your insurance
· Renew your driver’s license
· Renew your license plates/tags
Proper maintenance can increase the life and value of your vehicle. Your own e-mail assistant will remind you when it is time for your maintenance items on your automobile and they will maintain a complete automobile maintenance log that you can print out when it comes time to sell your vehicle.
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