Shopping Sense by John Cargile

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G U I D E TO S M A RT M ON E Y

March 20 - April 16

CENTRAL NORTH

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LIVEN UP YOUR WARDROBE …Pg. 11 Healthy Home-COOKED MEALS ON A DIME . .. Pg 14

GREAT CHILDREN’S Consignment Store Sales…Pg 22

Inexpensive Ways

to Update Your Kitchen…Pg 17

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March 20 - April 16

GIRLS DAY OUT.

2009

Indulge yourself at the 2009 Denver Post Colorado Women’s Expo! Don’t miss Colorado’s largest and most exciting event for women. Shop for products and services from over 200 vendors, meet local artisans, attend creative seminars presented by celebrity and regional experts on cooking, fitness, decorating, fashion and more. Plus, enter to win prizes and have a whole day of fun!

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March 20 - April 16 •

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your

G U I D E T O S M A RT M O N E Y

Publisher

James Diaz ...................................................................................................................

Advertising Director

Bud Simon

...................................................................................................................

Managing Editor

March 20 - April 16

John Cargile

Contributing Editors

C O N T E N T S

Ryan Peacock Charron Conley Caitlin Kelly Jeanne Fischer

Rotten Love: My Love Affair with Compost …Pg. 6-7

...................................................................................................................

Creative Director

Yashpal Singh Contributing Art Directors

Jennifer Harlow Marissa Ayres

...................................................................................................................

Keeping a compost pile can add up to a lot of green, both in your wallet and your garden.

Ofﬁce Manager

Theresa Hall ...................................................................................................................

Account Executives

Anne Kremer Ellen Schneeweis Tony Sollenbarger Char Stunkel Kim Beethe ...................................................................................................................

Losing Your Job: What To Do Now! …Pg. 8-10 Find out what your next steps should be if you lose your job.

Liven Up Your Wardrobe…Pg. 11 Say hello to spring with these fresh new accessories.

Shopping Sense is a publication of Metro Mountain Media, LLP, A MediaNews Group Company. ...................................................................................................................

Seven Inexpensive Ways to Update Your Kitchen…Pg. 17-18

Shopping Sense is delivered to over 350,000 households in The Denver Post and at selected retailers.

Give your kitchen a facelift without breaking the bank.

...................................................................................................................

Issue Dates for 2009: March 20 April 17 May 15 June 19 July 17 Aug 21 Sept 8 Oct 16 Nov 20 Dec 18

...................................................................................................................

Shopping Sense 3801 E. Florida Ave., Suite 100 Denver, CO 80210 Phone 303-954-3456 www.shoppingsense.biz

Dollar Stretching Tips…Pg. 19-21 Reduce Stress Naturally…Pg. 12-13 Try these techniques when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Hot Tips to Create Fast and Healthy Home-Cooked Meals on a Dime…Pg. 14-15

Trivia…Pg. 21 Spring Means Great Children’s Consignment Store Sales…Pg. 22 Check out these massive sales for great deals on clothing and more.

Great tips to create cheap and healthy meals.

Ten Budget-Friendly Cleaning Ideas…Pg. 16 Learn how to keep your house clean without going over budget. Shopping Sense

•

March 20 - April 16

FINANCE by Jeff Yeager

Rotten Love: My Love Affair with Compost Keeping a compost pile can add up to a lot of green—both in your wallet and your garden

fell in love with composting and my bride-to-be at the exact same moment, although not in that order, as I recall it. But in both cases it was love at first sight. When I met Denise almost 30 years ago, her amazing smile and steel blue eyes immediately captured my attention, as did her T-shirt. On the front it read, “A Rind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste.” And on the back, you guessed it: “I love Composting.” Today our compost pile — affectionately named “Gomer-thePile”—is the steaming envy of organic gardeners throughout our county. Although we’ve endured our share of well-intentioned jokes about having a “rotten marriage,” Denise and I love composting and organic gardening, both as a way to save money and get a little exercise while spending time together. And, no, Gomer, like any well constructed and maintained compost pile, doesn’t smell one bit, not even during the heat and humidity of a mid-Atlantic July day. Composting is unquestionably the ultimate act of frugality. Making valuable use of organic material that would otherwise be entombed for eternity in a bio-indestructible plastic garbage bag buried somewhere in a landfill, composting is recycling redux, times two. Compost is super rich decomposed material that contains lots of humus, carbon and nitrogen, and it’s black gold when worked into garden soil or around landscape plantings. You can buy compost, but the whole point is to transform the leftovers from your kitchen and yard into what Organic Gardening for Dummies aptly calls “the prince of organic matter.” Even urban pioneers can compost. 6

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HERE’S HOW TO GET STARTED: Build or buy a compost bin: Bins are usually square or round, and of roughly equal height, width and depth (typically three or four feet square/round). Make your own using medium mesh wire fence formed into a cylinder, or use pressure-treated lumber for a sturdier bin, leaving an inch between the side boards so the pile can breathe (see mastercomposter.com for detailed instructions and building plans). Lee Valley Tools (leevalley.com) is a great source for readymade bins (usually constructed of heavy duty plastic – urban gardeners should consider their compact Rolling Composter) and related composting supplies like charcoal filtered compost pails, aerating tools, and decay enhancers. If possible, place your bin a shady location. Add brown and green (for the richest compost you’ve ever seen):

Other Great Resources to Add to Your Pile On the web: oldgrowth.org/compost compostguide.com howtocompost.org compost.org In print: The Rodale Book of Composting (Rodale Press) Let it Rot! (Storey Publishing) Compost, By Gosh! (Flower Press) – for young composters

Rotate thick layers of brown material, like dried leaves, twigs, straw, pine needles, wood chips, and dried grass clippings, with thinner layers of green organic materials such as green grass clippings and leaves, fruit and vegetable trimmings, weeds and manure (green or otherwise). Never compost animal or dairy products, diseased plant materials or those treated with herbicides, pet/human waste or weeds that have already gone to seed. Water each layer thoroughly as you go. Think of it as making lasagna…or not. Stir, cover, and let cook: After a week or two, mix together the

layers using a pitchfork or special aerating tool. Then cover the pile with tarp so that it retains moisture and really starts to cook. The internal temperature of a proper compost pile can average 100 degrees or more than the surrounding air temperature, fast-tracking the decomposition process. Let time and nature do the work. Your compost should be handsomely decayed and ready to use in just two or three months, depending on conditions. Now, after all these years of marriage, ours is not without its sore points. “I love him dearly,” my poor wife recently said about life with me, the Ultimate Cheapskate, “but he’s so cheap he doesn’t leave much of anything for the compost pile. After making soup stock from the veggie trimmings, pickling the watermelon rind, and rubbing the banana peels on the leaves of house plants to prevent aphids, there’s nothing left to feed Gomer.” She may just have a point. Some evenings, as I pad out to my compost pile with the plastic kitchen pail chock-full of potato peels, apple cores, and coffee grounds, I think about that pretty coed with the clever T-shirt that I met nearly three decades ago. It’s true; some things do get even better with age. Jeff Yeager is the author of the book The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map SS to True Riches. His website is www.UltimateCheapskate.com. n

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March 20 - April 16

FINANCE By Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz

Losing Your Job: What to Do Now! Losing your job is traumatic, but you can certainly ease the fiscal pain by being disciplined about spending and looking into the benefits you’re entitled to.

s our economy experiences one of its most dramatic downturns in decades, the American worker is bearing much of the pain. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.1 million people joined the ranks of the unemployed in the last year. That brought the national unemployment rate up to 7.6 percent—and of course that number is much higher in many parts of the country. If you’re one of the people who has lost their job—or whose job is in jeopardy—the key is to take action. Here are some things you can do to help ease the financial pain. Review your severance package before you sign. If you are lucky enough to be offered a severance package, don’t sign without reading. According to Federal law, you have 21 days to sign a severance deal (and seven days after that to change your mind). You may be able to negotiate a better deal, particularly if you’re an experienced manager or an executive level employee. And be sure you understand the terms. Are you giving up any rights? Are you signing a non-compete clause? Look online for some guidance, or talk with an attorney. Apply for unemployment. Almost all wage and salaried workers are covered by the federal-state unemployment compensation program. Chances are good that if you find yourself out of work through no fault of your own, you qualify. Eligibility and benefits vary from state to state, so contact your state for details. Typically, your benefit depends on your recent earnings; in California, for example, unemployment benefits range from $40 to $450 per 8

March 20 - April 16 •

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week for up to 26 weeks (though federal legislation has extended that duration for some workers). Take advantage of your COBRA rights. Most workers can continue to be covered under their employer’s health insurance plan for up to 18 months after being laid off, thanks to the COBRA legislation of 1985 (and most states have mandated an extension of that). And Congress has just sweetened the deal by way of the recent economicstimulus plan: If you lose your job between Sept. 1, 2008 and Jan. 1, 2010, the federal government will subsidize 65 percent of your COBRA premium. Of course you might be able to afford doctor visits and medication without insurance, but a serious accident or illness could be a financial disaster. It’s critical to stay insured! Roll over your 401(k) account. When it comes to preserving your retirement savings, you’ve got some choices. First, you can make a direct transfer to what is known as a Rollover IRA (the human resources department at your employer will have the forms and any broker-dealer can help you with the transfer). I like this option because your entire account balance will transfer tax-free. Or, if you instead opt to get a check from your former employer, you have 60 days to roll it over to an IRA. In general this is not a good idea because your employer will be forced to withhold 20 percent for prepayment of federal income taxes. Also, if you miss the 60 days and you are under 59 1/2 years old,

you will be tagged with a 10 percent penalty (state income taxes and penalties may also apply). A third choice is to leave your money with your former employer. Although this may not be ideal because you will be tied to the investment choices in your former employer’s plan, it does spare you having to pay taxes or penalties. And finally, if you just “cash out,” you’ll owe taxes on the entire amount, plus potential penalties. And you’ll be raiding your retirement account. So for the sake of your retirement, go with one of the other choices. Create a budget, and cut your spending. One of your first tasks should be to figure out what you’re going to live on while you look for a new job. You might have a few months of severance pay. Your spouse might have an income. You might be eligible for unemployment benefits (as described above). And you may have an emergency fund, other savings or a home equity line of credit. You might also be able to work part time while you look for a full-time job. Now take a good hard look at your spending. Some expenses you can’t cut, or at least not easily, like your rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, etc. But you’ll probably find plenty of opportunities to reduce your outﬂows while you’re searching for a new job. See if you qualify for other forms of assistance. There are several tax benefits that might be available to you, from the new “recovery rebate credit” (for people who didn’t receive a stimulus

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March 20 - April 16

FINANCE

payment in 2008 but are now eligible because of changed economic circumstances) to the 0 percent capital gains and qualified dividends rate (if your income is low enough). Check with a tax professional or

the IRS to find out more. Look for a job! It may seem obvious to say, “Look for work.” But losing your livelihood can be depressing, and given the current economic outlook, it’s easy enough to put off the search until the situation improves. My advice is to start your job search right away. If your industry is severely depressed, work on applying your skills and experience to another one. Take a part-time job. Go freelance for a while if that’s an option. The more initiative you take, the greater your chances of finding a new job. Losing your job is undoubtedly traumatic, and none of these suggestions can eliminate the psychological pain of unemployment. But you can certainly ease the fiscal pain of this ordeal by being disciplined about spending, by making sure you’re getting the benefits you’re entitled to, and by being active and open-minded in your search for a new job. Carrie Schwab Pomerantz is Chief Strategist, Consumer Education, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Member SIPC. You can e-mail Carrie at askcarrie@ schwab.com. To find out more about Carrie Schwab Pomerantz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. SS COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC n

Money-Saving Strategies at Your Fingertips You already look to Shopping Sense magazine for the best tips and deals on saving money and living better, and now, you can find even more money-saving resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on www.ShoppingSense.biz.

Find the value-driven insight you’ve come to expect including: n Expert financial advice from

n Articles covering everything from

Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz’s column, Money and You

automotive to beauty with references to local businesses

n Tips on everything from saving money

to gardening from Jeff Yeager, The Ultimate Cheapskate

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The latest answers to our brain-teasing trivia questions

Content from past Shopping Sense issues, so you’ll never miss an article or deal

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from people around the country, courtesy of TheDollarStretcher.com

With Shopping Sense magazine and Shopping Sense.biz, you can find ways for you and your family to live better without breaking the bank. Log onto www.ShoppingSense.biz and discover the wealth of information available at your fingertips!

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FASHION By Susan M. Keenan

Liven Up

Your Wardrobe Simple steps to add pop to your clothing this spring.

our wardrobe is essential to the image that you present to the world around you. No one has an endless budget, so it is important to get the most out of what you already possess. You can revitalize your wardrobe with a few quick, easy and inexpensive maneuvers. Scarves. Visit a store that is having a sale on fashion accessories and pick up a few new scarves that you know will match some of your current outfits. If you normally go for the bold and sassy look, choose something a bit more

Adjusting the hem on your skirt can give it a snappier look, especially if you have the legs to show it off. Combos. Switch it up. Instead of pairing the same pieces together, top your slacks, skirt or jeans with a blazer or sweater that you have never worn with them. Casual. Casual outfits deserve a change too. Revitalizing casual clothing is a bit easier and definitely a bit more daring than revitalizing what you wear to the office. Re-Purpose. If you have too many t-shirts, buy some polyester fill and stitch yourself a pillow for the den or bedroom. Simply cut to size, stitch, stuff and close. Not in the mood for another pillow? T-shirts make great laundry bags. Again, cut and stitch. Be sure to place a drawstring channel at one end of the bag. T-shirt sleeves have a wonderful second life as a headband, especially for the active person. Re-Create. Are the knees too tattered and the cuffs too raggedy on your favorite pair of jeans? Turn them into a jean skirt by slicing off the legs and ripping out the crotch. If you are handy with a needle and thread, you can sew a traditional hemline. If sewing isn’t your forte, then simply trim any stragglers and you are ready to go. You can create a fresh new look in minutes. The tools you need are simple—a little ingenuity, desire and time. Think a little, design a bit, SS alter a smidgen and enjoy the result. n

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subdued and vice versa. Buttons. Changing the buttons on any blouse or jacket creates a clever new look at minimal cost. For a bright and eye catching change, simply add a set of patterned buttons that immediately draw attention. Beads. Adding a bit of trim, appliqués or ribbon can also achieve a brightening effect. For those of you who are artistically inclined, bedazzle your admirers with a sprinkling of beads or rhinestones. Hems. Hemlines ﬂuctuate as frequently as the stock market.

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March 20 - April 16

HEALTH By Sarah Borroum

Reduce Stress Naturally Finding the perfect relaxation techniques can help you relax and lower your stress level

et’s face it: stress happens to all of us. Students are stressed over finals. Office workers are stressed over deadlines and major projects. Homemakers are stressed over finances, housekeeping and carpooling. Everyone goes a little crazy over something, which is normal. The problem comes not when we have stress, but when we allow stress to be in charge. When we learn how to deal with it appropriately, we can stay on top of it and be able to function as normally. Stress management is different for each of us, so we sometimes have to try several things before we find the solutions that work. For many people, natural remedies are very effective for battling stress. This isn’t some kooky combination of weird herbs that you’ve never heard of before: this is a whole list of things that many Americans do every day. For example: did you know that getting half an hour of exercise 12

March 20 - April 16 •

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every few days is a highly effective stress buster? It is! Take part of your lunch break to visit the gym. Do stretches or enroll in a yoga or tai chi class. Take up an athletic activity that you’ve always wanted to try, like in-line skating or biking. The exercise has an added bonus: you’ll have fun while you get into better shape. Diet also plays a key part in your stress levels. This isn’t to say that you should never enjoy a chocolate bar, of course. However, you should reduce your caffeine intake and try to eat more well-balanced meals. Remember your vegetables: they’re great for the body and for your mind in many cases. If applicable, your religious or spiritual faith can be very helpful in times of stress. Singing praise and worship music, attending services or simply being around other people of your faith can all help. Massages also help, as they release muscle tension and allow your

body to relax for a few minutes. You can pay a professional to do this a few times a month or teach your spouse or roommate how to do it. If you go with the latter, be sure to return the favor. It’s more fun when both people get to give AND receive. Finding hobbies and making time for them every day – even if it’s just ten to fifteen minutes – also helps reduce stress levels. These hobbies should be things that you do just because they’re enjoyable and fun. If you like building ships inside bottles, pick up a starter kit online or at the hobby shop and get to it. Try other things too, like card games or playing music. Spending a small amount of time all by yourself every day, preferably in a quiet place that’s comfortable, will also kill off some of the stress that’s bothering you. You can spend part of your evening in your favorite recliner, with all the lights dimmed, and just enjoy being there in the relative dark with nothing to worry about. And most importantly, get a sense of humor. Find something that makes you laugh, whether it’s a Web site of jokes or a greeting card from a friend. You can tune in to a stand-up comic’s televised routine or watch one of your favorite funny movies. The age-old saying that “laughter is the best medicine” has been proven true by modern science. It really does release “feel-good” chemicals in our brains, which kick stress to the side so that we can relax for a while.

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Once you find the things that work for you, stick with them. You have to make time every day for stretching, building model airplanes and all of the other things that you’ll do. They’ll eventually become an essential part of your day, just like breathing or walking the dog, and you’ll find SS that your stress levels are manageable much more often than not. n

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March 20 - April 16

FOOD

Hot Tips to Create Fast and Healthy Home-Cooked Meals on A Dime Planning high-quality meals for your family can be both inexpensive and healthy

arents struggle to find that perfect medium between planning healthy meals and planning fast meals for their busy families. After all, dinner for many families these days is usually a side event, crammed between homework, soccer practice and piano lessons. Mealplanning is becoming more complicated now as more and more families are trying to trim back spending. Healthy foods unfortunately tend to cost more than already-prepared foods in many cases, so the temptation to buy something that you can just “throw in the oven” is growing stronger. Plan Your Meals. First and foremost, if you aren’t already planning out your meals ahead of time, you are probably wasting time and money. Before you go grocery shopping each week, sit down with your family’s calendar and look at what activities you have going on that week. If soccer practice is on Tuesdays and there is a PTA meeting on Thursday, you will want to find quick and easy meals for those nights, possibly meals that you can make ahead of time and just throw in the oven to heat up. Consider making a homemade lasagna over the weekend when you have more time and refrigerating or freezing it until you need it. Or make a soup ahead of time, or some other dish that you simply need to heat up. There are an amazing number of soup mixes on the store shelves that take a very limited amount of time to prepare. Often you simply need to add some water, meat and veggies to the soup and you have a real family pleaser. Stretch Your Pennies. As you are planning your meals, in addition to keeping in mind your schedule, keep in mind the approximate cost of making that meal. If you are a shopper who cruises through the store picking up your “usual” items without paying attention to the price, this may not be an easy task for you right away. The next time you visit the store, spend some time looking at the price of the items and the overall meal cost. If you pick up a $2 jar of spaghetti sauce, $2 of spaghetti noodles, $3 for ground beef or turkey, and $2 for garlic bread, that’s a $10 meal for your family. Train yourself over the course of your next few trips at the store to really pay attention to the overall cost of the meals you are creating, rather than simply the cost of each item on its own. Re-Heat and Relax. If your family doesn’t regularly eat leftovers, you are missing out! If you can stretch that $10 spaghetti dinner into a Saturday afternoon lunch for your family as well, you’ve cut the cost of your meal in half. Not to mention, you’ve just 14

March 20 - April 16 •

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saved yourself some serious time and effort cooking and cleaning! Even if you can’t create another full meal for your family out of your leftovers, if you save leftovers for a day or two, your family can share a few different leftover dishes for dinner one night. Or you can eat them for lunch the following day while the kids are at school. Every meal that you can create from the food you purchase stretches your grocery dollars. When planning your meals out each week, think about how much food you normally have left over when you cook dishes such as spaghetti, enchiladas, and so on. If you can plan to eat spaghetti

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March 20 - April 16

HOME By Randall Noblet

10 Budget-Friendly Cleaning Ideas O

kay, I’m a clean freak—I’ll admit it. I like my floors swept, shower scrubbed, and carpet vacuumed. But I’m also on a tight budget, which means I can’t buy every new cleaning gadget out there or every sparkly-but costly-green cleaner I ooh and ahh over. I can still keep my little apartment immaculate, though. Here’s how I do it: 1. Make the most of dish soap. I have a slight obsession with Method’s French lavender dish soap and use it for almost everything. By pouring a few drops in a bucket of water, I get my kitchen floors so clean I could practically eat off of ‘em, and I avoid buying expensive and harmful floor cleaners. And to my delight, Method’s soap is so potent a few drops will do me. I also use it to remove stains and clean glass. 2. Stock up on the store brand. Don’t think for one second that the store brand is any less qualified to clean than the name brand. I use my local grocery store’s brand of sponges, mops, brooms, bleach, and whatever else I can get my hands on. But keep an eye on the ingredients. If the store brand is lacking a crucial component, I usually stick with the name brand. 3. Reuse, reuse, reuse. Forget tossing old towels and t-shirts—cut them into smaller pieces to use as dust and cleaning rags. By doing this, I save the landfill from more trash and myself the cost of paper towels. 4. Borax. This little wonder can do just about everything under the sun. Andeven better—it’s a naturally occurring substance, making it quite environmentally friendly. I use it to scrub the bathroom and kitchen. And though I’ve never tried this, you can also make laundry soap out of it as well. But even though it’s a natural product, it can be toxic if ingested, so use with care and store away from children. 5. Concoct my own. We’ve pointed you toward this site before for green-cleaner recipes, but a little reminder never hurt anyone. Rhonda Jean’s concoctions are some of the best out there, and her other frugal advice is worth taking. I’m especially fond of her sink cleaner recipe.

March 20 - April 16 •

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6. Follow directions. I’m always tempted to pour a little extra laundry detergent in a load or spray the shower cleaner a few more times, but if I keep my urges in check, my cleaners last a lot longer. So check the directions and only use the amount specified. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but you’ll thank me when you see how much you save.

7. Line dry. At my apartment building, it costs a buck for every load I dry, so I often skip the dryer all together. My clothes take less wear and tear and hold their shape for longer. Plus, I save money. And even if you have full access to your own dryer, your energy bill will drop if you avoid it as often as possible. 8. Muster some elbow grease. Stains and that sticky goop at the bottom of the fridge have nothing on these guns. Although it’s easy to reach for the cleaner, sometimes it just takes a little extra scrubbing. So before I break out anything toxic, I try my hand at a little soap and water and a lot of elbow grease. 9. Hold out for a full load. I wait until the dishwasher or laundry basket is stuffed to the brim before I run another load. It may test my patience-sometimes I really want to wear that dirty pair of jeans-but it saves me serious dough. 10. Maintain. I try to stay on top of my cleaning duties. A little extra time spent now prevents me from spending more money on tougher cleaners and pest control down the road. Try giving your home a good clean about SS Article Source: EzineArticles.com once a week. n

HOME By C. McKie

7 Inexpensive Ways to Update Your Kitchen You’ll be amazed at the transformation your kitchen will undergo in terms of style while still keeping within a reasonable budget

oes your kitchen look like the set for a 1970s sitcom? If so it may be time to update your kitchen décor. While nothing good ever comes for free, it is entirely possible to give your outdated kitchen a much needed facelift without breaking the bank. Give it a Fashionable New Coat…of Paint. Painting your kitchen’s walls a brighter and trendier color is a cheap and easy way to give new life to a tired room. Today’s kitchen paint trends lean towards brighter, bolder colors that make the room appear larger. Bright blues and greens are popular for a splash of color while those with more conservative decorating tastes would do well to choose the new neutral color, gray, or a softer buttercup shade. Make your new paint choices really count by choosing the right wall and ceiling color combinations to suit your kitchen’s size and style. Smaller kitchens can quickly seem larger if you use the same lightcolored paint color on both the ceiling and walls causing the eye to

automatically be drawn upward to the ceiling. If your kitchen is roomier or you’re choosing a bolder color, try painting the ceiling a few shades lighter but within the same color family. This will keep your kitchen from looking “closed in” and give more impact to the bolder wall color. Give Your Cabinets a Face Lift. Nothing ages the look of a kitchen like outdated cabinetry. While installing new cabinets is an expensive hassle, luckily, painting them is an easy way to improve upon just about any type of cabinet style. Choose lighter colors for a more modern look and keep the bold colors for your kitchen walls. The trick to great looking cabinets is all in the prep work so be sure to sand the surfaces with 150 grit sandpaper or finer. This allows for better primer or paint adhesion to the cabinet’s surface. Chances are you’ll need to use a primer if you are painting over varnished or stained wood but those painting over an already painted cabinet surface can likely skip the primer. Oil-based enamel paint is probably your best bet in term of durability. Shopping Sense

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March 20 - April 16

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These kitchen upgrades can happen slowly or in groups with each causing minimal disruption to your kitchen use as compared to an entire renovation

Tile Accents Do Wonders. One of the simplest ways to enrich your kitchen décor is with the addition of tile. Tile and bold wall color is a hot combination and can really turn an ordinary kitchen into an extraordinary space. Use small tiles together to make a patterned backsplash along your countertops for an elegant effect. Your tile’s colors should compliment the color scheme of your kitchen, perhaps bringing out any accent colors present. Even if money is tight one or two small rows of tile can make a big difference. Save money by checking for sales or discontinued tile patterns. Light Up a Room. Modernized lighting is a key factor to an updated décor in any room of the house. Outdated chandeliers or globe lights should be banished from your kitchen in lieu of pendant lights, modern dome-style fixtures or track lighting. Your lighting fixtures should compliment the overall style and feel of your kitchen’s décor. Don’t be afraid to get bold with your pendant lights in both style and color and use them as attractive task lighting over prep areas, breakfast nooks or islands. Under cabinet lighting is another popular trend in modern kitchen lighting. Energy efficient ﬂuorescent and LED lighting can help save on your electric bill but they can make food and wall colors look a bit “off” due to their inability to properly show reds, oranges and purples. Halogen lighting is a truer form of lighting but is not as energy efficient and can be hot to the touch. With either choice the addition of under cabinet lighting can help set a more intimate mood in the kitchen and show off a stunning tile backsplash. 18

March 20 - April 16 •

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Add a Wine Rack. Today’s modern kitchen almost always includes a wine storage space of some sort. To pull your kitchen into the 21st century why not try converting an extra cupboard into a built-in wine rack? Simply remove the cupboard door, clean up and finish off any exposed edges if needed, and insert a section of wine rack lattice to hold your wine bottles. This lattice is available for purchase at home improvement stores or online and is relatively inexpensive. One word of caution; choose the location of your wine rack wisely. Wine does not do well when exposed to radical ﬂuctuations in temperature so be sure the spot you choose is not in direct sunlight or right next to your fridge or stove. Create an Island Oasis. One of the biggest drawbacks to many older style kitchens is their lack of counter space. An easy way to create an extra work area is by the addition of an island. If your kitchen has ample room for it a large island can easily be created out of two stock cupboards attached together back to back. Use laminate, butcher block or even a small section of granite to top off your new kitchen island. You’ll create a new prep area and add extra storage for pots and pans or even the addition of a wine rack as mentioned earlier. For smaller kitchens a compact, portable island is a perfect alternative. These can be rolled off to the side when not in use but still provide extra storage and that much needed work space when needed. Dressing up the Windows. When putting the finishing touches on your new modernized kitchen don’t forget the window treatments. It’s curtains for outdated ﬂowery valances. Instead go for a sleeker look by installing roman shutters or blinds in the wooden or Venetian style. Keep the colors of your window treatments neutral and natural for the best effect. These kitchen upgrades can happen slowly or in groups with each causing minimal disruption to your kitchen use as compared to an entire renovation. Whether you choose only a couple of these ideas or many you’ll be amazed at the transformation your kitchen will undergo in terms of style while still keeping within a reasonable budget.

SHOPPING Want to live better on the money you already . . . . make? Visit TheDollarStretcher.com to find hundreds of articles to help you . . . . stretch your day and your dollar

EXTRA PASTA

WRAPPING BABY SHOWER GIFTS

I have a hard time judging how much pasta to cook for my family. Recently, I started freezing the leftover pasta. It works great to throw into a soup or even to take for lunch when my kids only leave leftover sauce on another pasta night! —Vi H.

For baby shower presents, I use receiving blankets to wrap the present. Normally I give clothing items or small necessity items to the proud parents. I lay two receiving blankets out with the corners pointing in all eight directions. Then I lay the item(s) in the middle and bring all the corners up. I use a bubble type teething ring to slip down over the corners as they are drawn up in the middle and ﬂuff the corners out once they are drawn through the teething ring. The entire package is now the present and there is nothing to throw away. —Denise

CRAFTING CLEAN-UP For doing crafts at the kitchen table, purchase a plastic table cloth or shower curtain at the dollar store or use an old one you have lying areound and use it as a table cloth. I don’t even wipe it off when I finish. Instead, I just fold it up and stash it for next time. —TDM

MEASURING LIQUIDS IN THE KITCHEN I have found an easy way to measure small amounts of liquids (for instance, a teaspoon of vanilla extract). I use the medicine spoons that the pharmacy sends with liquid medicine for my children. The spoons are easy to read and have an elevated side so you can rest the filled spoon on the counter until the liquid is needed.—Sally M.

HAVE A SMOOTH STOVETOP? To clean your smooth top stove, sprinkle it with baking soda and then spray with white vinegar. I keep a parmesan cheese container filled with baking soda and a spray bottle with white vinegar under my sink. Let it sit for a few minutes and clean with a damp rag (I use hot water). It works great. Sometimes you have to use a little elbow power on the stubborn grit, but it doesn’t take any longer than the expensive cleaner. —Susan LoV.

EXPIRATION DATED When I buy a dozen eggs, I cut off the section of the egg carton that has the expiration date and put it into my egg holder, along with my eggs. This lets me see the expiration date whenever I open the refrigerator so I can plan on using the eggs before this date. It’s easy to do, prevents waste, and keeps the guesswork out.—Sharon

LAST OF THE LIPSTICK Cosmetics can be expensive. One way I save in this area is to use a lipstick brush once my lipstick gets “ﬂat.” There is still about 1/2 inch of lipstick in the tube at this point, and a brush can easily reach this. It takes a bit more time to apply, but certainly makes the tube go longer! —Anne S. in Huntsville, AL

WHAT SIZE WAS THAT? Whenever I needed to buy replacement filters for my furnace or humidifier, I could never remember the size needed or the brand/ type. I’d write it down somewhere but then leave the piece of paper behind. Or I’d just guess and then end up buying the wrong item. Now, I just store the information in my cell phone, listing the information as though it was a contact of mine. Since I always have my cell phone with me, I can be sure that I’m buying the right item/size. —Alison K. in Wallingford, CT

HELP WITH PET CARE In such tight money times, it can be stressful to provide the care needed to keep our pets healthy. If you are anywhere near a Humane Society animal shelter, give them a call. Vet checkups, spay and neutering services, shots and even ﬂea and heart worm preventative medications can be purchased for about half the price of the neighborhood vet. Support your vet when you can, but if the choice is between finding cheaper care or neglecting your pet, call the Humane Society. I have also heard that many food banks are now providing dog and cat food. If you are really in a bind, give them a call and get some help to keep your loved ones healthy. —Beth

THE HOUSE FOLDER We are trying to sell our house. The job is made a little easier because of our house folder. I gathered various documents and papers and put each into a plastic cover and have them all corralled into a binder. These include things like utility bills, our property tax statement, subdivision plat layout, subdivision rules, receipts on any repairs or upgrades to the house (new lighting, new toilet, A/C repair, new roof, etc.). Each of these items is dated. We also put in a ﬂoor plan and a landscape plan. Although the house has not yet sold, lookers have told us how much that folder helps. We leave it on the table for them to view, and we also gave a copy to our agent. —Diana P. Shopping Sense

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March 20 - April 16

SHOPPING

DRIED GRIME REMOVER I keep a spray bottle of 2/3 white vinegar and 1/3 water next to the kitchen sink. When I have dishes or utensils that need extra scrubbing because of dried on grime, I simply spray with my spray bottle, wait a few minutes and wash as usual. No more elbow grease needed! — Jacqueline K.

SMALL OBJECT FINDER If I drop something on the floor that is hard to see (like a small earring or pin), I just roll a lint roller across the floor, and the item will stick to it. If I don’t have a lint roller handy, I wrap a piece of any type of tape I have available (duct, mailing, etc.) around my hand and run my hand across the floor. The dropped item will stick to the tape. — Teresa R.

JUST US TWO Form a babysitting co-op with your friends. In a typical month, you’ll get three dates out with your spouse for free and only have to babysit one night. We send an email to all families to have them sign up to take one Saturday night out of the month. Then each couple drops their child(ren) off at the babysitting family’s home. We never pay for a babysitter and get to go out on a date three weeks out of each month. — Celia LeV.

for my turn, but the average wait time for appointments at a pay-fortax-prep center is 30 minutes. I verified the wait by phone with Jackson Hewitt and H&R Block. They said that during late March to early April, wait times could be over one hour even with a verified appointment due to high volume and double booking. They assume some people will miss appointments or run late. Try a volunteer tax service and you’ll save time as well as money. — CC

DOUBLE-DIP HAIR CARE Here’s a tip that I got from a hairdresser on how to cut your shampoo/ conditioner bill at least in half. This is also a time saver! First of all, don’t buy those expensive bottles of shampoo and conditioner all in one. Buy large bottles of whichever inexpensive shampoo and conditioner you like. When you get into the shower, wet your hair down first thing. Then in your hand, put a blob of shampoo and a blob of conditioner, about the amount you’d use of each individually, and mix together. Apply to your hair as usual, and don’t rinse immediately. Let the mixture sit on your hair while you finish your shower. Just before you get out of the shower, rinse your hair. You’ll find your hair to be as clean as if you’d washed twice, and it’ll be properly conditioned! — Olga J.

THE BENEFITS OF WALKING

FROM ‘AVERAGE’ TO ‘SPECIAL’

Everyone knows that if you walk someplace, you save money because you don’t use the gas to get there. Yet, not many realize another benefit of walking to the store. If you are walking, you tend not to buy as much, as you can’t carry it all back home!

My short legs prove costly as petite clothing is usually sold out and the average items go on sale. I have saved hundreds over the years in pant and skirt purchases by buying clearance in average sizes and hemming them myself with my sewing machine. Even if you don’t sew, you can use the fusible tape to hem them. Just be careful to not use a super hot dryer or the tape will let loose. — Joyce G.

I walked to the grocery store today, and the Valentine candy was on clearance. It was so tempting! I realized, though, that it would add too much weight to the load I was carrying. I already needed to get a gallon of milk, along with other items. So, along with saving money by not driving, I saved money by not buying! — Jari in Texas

NO MORE SINUS HEADACHES

PET MEDICATIONS

I used to have sinus headaches all the time. I had to buy sinus medicines on a regular basis. I heard about a Neti Pot from a friend. It’s like a little teakettle to put warm water and salt in to ﬂush out your nose. It comes with instructions. It’s all-natural. They are sold at health food stores, and I bought mine for $11. I started using it and the sinus headaches were gone. I have not had to spend any money for sinus medications since. What a savings! —Michele B.

I called a pet catalog company and asked them to send me their latest catalog. When the catalog arrived, I noted the prices for all the vaccines and heartworm pills my two dogs needed for the year.

TAX PREPARATION HELP Every community has a volunteer tax service. Some have income limits, but they are generally quite high, so most people can use this free service. Call your local community resource center (sometimes it is an over-age-60 center) and see what they say. My taxes are prepared free of charge by a retired IRS agent. Yes, last year I had to wait 45 minutes 20

March 20 - April 16 •

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When it was time to take my dogs to the vet for their yearly vaccines and heartworm pills, I quoted the pet catalog prices for those items to the vet and told him he could either give my dogs the items for the prices I quoted for them or I would order them from the pet catalog. The vet gave my dogs these items for the prices I quoted him. This saved me $15 on the heartworm pills for each dog, for total savings of $30. Plus, the cost of the vaccines each dog needed was much less, too. The total amount I saved for both dogs was over $50. I will do this every year at vaccine and heartworm pill refill time. — Lori S. in Sheboygan, WI

LAMPSHADES I use a lint roller to clean my lampshades. It’s very sticky, so it works great! And it’s very easy! — Aubrey E.

SWEET SMELLING SLIPPERS My husband’s slippers always smell like, well, feet. So we put a used dryer sheet in each slipper when he’s not wearing them and now they don’t smell anymore! — Wendy D.

OLDIE, BUT GOODIE One way to get good quality furniture is through auctions. It’s possible to find solid wood dining- and living-room sets from the 30s, 40s and 50s. After using a little Old English scratch polish, one can have a beautiful set that still has value. Then it can be resold at auction whenever you want new furniture. — H.

HANDY RECIPE BOOK I use photo albums that have the sticky sheets to store all of my favorite recipes. I wait until they go on sale. They are perfect for storing recipes

TRIVIA

you find in magazines, etc! I just use tab dividers to sort out main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. It’s perfect and right at your fingertips. My cupboard is so organized now because I store my recipes in photo albums. — June C.

THE RECORD KEEPER I found an easy way to save on gas. I just record my car’s mileage on the first and last day of the month on my wall calendar. I subtract to find the miles traveled that month. I then record each month the miles I put on my car. I find I travel less to beat last month’s record. I seem to automatically cut back because I am accountable. — Jolynn H.

SUPPLEMENTING ALLOWANCES It’s refreshing to pop open a can of soda pop, but it’s even more refreshing knowing that you can teach children the value of recycling when they regularly crush, store, and then sell those aluminum cans a few times a year at the nearest scrap yard. It may cost us some gas money getting there, but it is a small price to pay for teaching the value of work, recycling and saving. SS — Mary n

Answers on www.shoppingsense.biz

1.) What was the original name of The Bank of America? a. Bank Of The Americas b. Bank Of Italy c. Acme Bank d. Wells Fargo Bank

2.) What year was the People’s Republic of China added to the United Nations? a. 1991 b. 1971 c. 1961 d. 1981

3.) Who wrote the book “Fowl Tips”? a. Wade Boggs b. Colonel Saunders c. Julia Childs d. Yogi Berra

4.) How long did Dickens take to write "A Christmas Carol?" a. 2 Days b. 2 Months c. 2 Weeks d. 2 Years

5.) What is another term for the genetic disorder Trisomy 18? a. Down Syndrome b.Tourette Syndrome c. Edwards Syndrome d. Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen Syndrome

6.) What does the name “Iwo Jima” mean in Japanese? a. Rugged Island b. Land Of Milk c. Two Islands d. Sulfur Island

7.) A painting by which artist was upside down in NY’s Museum of Modern Art until a student found the error? a. Alexander Calder b. Georges Braque c. Pablo Picasso d. Henri Matisse

8.) What beer had the words “It’s Registered Pure” on its label? a. Coors b. Weidermann c. Pabst d. Lone Star

9.) What does the word “Zeitgeist” mean? a. Spirit b. Spirit of the Time c. Poltergeist d. Vengeful Spirit

c. Brain and Liver d. Kidney and Brain

10.) Springwood was a home of which U.S. President a. Bill Clinton b. Woodrow Wilson c. Franklin D. Roosevelt d. Richard Nixon

11.) A barrel of beer in the United States contains how many gallons? a. 15.5 b. 42 c. 25 d. 31

12.) When Ray Kroc first started the McDonald’s enterprise, how old was he? a. 52 b. 31 c. 24 d. 14

13.) How much does a lobster increase in size while molting? 20% 25% 33% 50%

14.) Which two organs does Wilson’s disease primarily affect?

15.) What word was written on the Sydney Harbor Bridge during the fireworks to celebrate year 2000? a. Sydney b. Peace c. Forever d. Eternity

16.) In which century did the black plague kill as many as half the people of Europe? a. 19th b. 14th c. 18th d. 15th

17.) Which country grows 80 percent of the world’s vanilla bean used for ice cream? a. India b. Madagascar c. Fiji d. Brazil

18.) Which Irish city would you be near if you were at Dun Laoghaire port?

a. Kidney and Liver b. Skin and Liver

Shopping Sense

a. Galway b. Belfast c. Dublin d. Cork

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March 20 - April 16

SHOPPING By Amber Johnson

Spring Means Great

Children’s Consignment out these massive sales for great Store Sales Check deals children’s’ clothing and more.

bviously, my love for these sales runneth deep and the spring sale season is upon us! For those not in the know, these consignment extravaganzas feature children’s clothing from newborn to size 12, maternity clothing, car seats, cribs, bedding, feeding supplies, high chairs, potty chairs, bouncy chairs, swings, strollers, toys, books, videos and more, all at a fraction of the cost. Most of the sales have a nominal entrance fee and have half-price deals on the final day. Also, I will give you a hint: these sales are no secret to most shoppers. So come early loaded with a large bag or laundry basket, cash and extra sharp elbows! I mean…the love for your fellow (wo)man.

Where: National Western Complex, Stadium Hall One at I/70 and Brighton Road www.jbfsale.com/denver/

SPRING 2009 CONSIGNMENT SALE SCHEDULE

April 18-19 - Haute Tots Consignment Sale Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Half-price day) Where: Table Mountain Ranch, 19000 W 58th Avenue, Golden 80403 Email: hautetots@yahoo.com

March 27 and 28 - Back 2 the Rack Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. - noon. (Half-price sale on most items) Where: Douglas County Fairgrounds—Kirk Hall, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock www.back2therack.com March 28 – Darling Doubles 8 a.m. - noon Where: Adams County Fairgrounds, Al Lesser Bldg, 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton www.darlingdoubles.org/?page_id=5 April 3-4 – Just Between Friends Highlands Ranch Friday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Half-price sale) Where: East Building at the Denver Christian School, 1733 E. Dad Clark Dr. www.highlandsranch.jbfsale.com/ Just Between Friends Colorado Springs Friday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. (half-price sale) Where: Phil Long Expo Center, 1515 Auto Mall Loop, Colorado Springs www.coloradosprings.jbfsale.com/ April 4 – Double Delights of Denver Clothing and Equipment Sale 9 a.m. - noon Where: Grace United Methodist Church, 4905 East Yale Ave www.doubledelights.org April 17 - 19 - Just Between Friends Denver Friday 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (half-price sale) 22

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April 17 - 19 - Your Little One’s Locker Friday 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Sunday Noon - 5 pm (half-price sale) Where: The American Legion in Firestone, CO. 670 First Street, Firestone, Colorado. www.yourlittleoneslocker.com

April 23 - 25 - St. Philip Early Learning Center’s 18th Annual Children’s Clothing and Bake Sale Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Friday 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (white tickets are half-price) Where: 7531 S. Kendall Blvd., Littleton (1 block east of Ken Caryl & Pierce) www.stphilip-co.org/templates/System/details. asp?id=31625&PID=260858 May 2 - 3 - Just Between Friends Broomfield Times: Saturday 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. (half-price sale on most items) Where: St. Mark Catholic Church, 3141 W. 96th Ave, 80031 www.broomfield.jbfsale.com/ May 8 - 11 - Just Between Friends Longmont 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Where: Boulder County Fairgrounds www.longmont.jbfsale.com/ This article was republished from Mile High Mamas, an entertaining community resource for area moms. Mile High Mamas is the brainchild of Amber Johnson, a former adventure-travel writer turned adventurous unraveling mother of two children. Go to the site at www.MileHighMamas.com or via www.DenverPost.com n SS

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