Cheaper, Better, Faster (28 page)

Social
Security—know what you have

Call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 for a “Request for Earnings and Benefits Estimate
Statement” or visit their website at
www.SSA.gov
. After you mail back the completed form, you will receive a statement showing all the money you have paid into Social Security as well as a personalized estimated monthly benefit upon retirement. If there are errors, such as they didn't credit you 1 year or they have you earning the wrong amount, they can be corrected but only if you report them.

Taxes—hardship extension, IRS Form 1127

If you have an undue hardship such as long-term unemployment, prolonged illness, disaster, or inability to borrow, and can't pay your federal taxes when they are due on April 15, call the IRS hotline (800-829-1040) and request Form 1127, “Application for Extension of Time for Payment of Tax Due to Undue Hardship.” By filing this form, you will have until June 15 to pay without penalty. If the IRS says they've never heard of this form, be persistent. Insist on speaking with a supervisor. It does exist, it is legal, and you have every right to file it if you qualify. This is different from the form “Extension to File Taxes” in which case you must still pay any taxes owing on or before April 15.

Taxes—lower your
withholding

Don't give the Internal Revenue Service a free loan. If you receive a large refund each year, you're losing interest on the money. It pays to lower your withholding and bank the difference. Your employer's personnel office can tell you how to arrange it.

Taxes—prepare
for tax deductible reporting

Keep a separate checking account for tax deductible expenses, and sort them every month by category, such as charitable contributions and medical and dental expenses. By year's end you'll be way ahead in the tax preparation hassle.

Taxes—property tax evaluation

Challenge your property tax bill. If the value of your property has declined, you might be entitled to a reassessment of your taxes.

Utilities—good customer perks

Usually if you have been a good customer of the utility companies (gas, water, electricity, phone) for at least a year, you can arrange to have your deposits refunded or credited toward your account. You may be able to get interest, too, if you ask.

Utilities—home energy audits

Request a home energy audit from your electricity or gas companies. Typically these audits are free and will help you discover where all that energy is going.

Word to the wise—choose to be content

Be content with what you have. As much as possible, do not spend your life scheming and planning to get more things.

Word to the wise—company ratings

Make sure you are dealing with a highly rated company of B+ or better. These days the smaller, lower-rated companies are dropping out regularly. Better safe than sorry.

Word to the wise—D-
E-B-T reality

Convince yourself that unsecured debt is a four-letter word. As soon as you teach that to yourself, teach it to your children. Banish unsecured debt from your life.

Word to the wise—don't carry
extra cash

Take along only as much money as you expect to need each day. Impulsive purchases are difficult to make when you have no dollars to spare.

Word to
the wise—don't pay credit with credit

Never pay your credit card bill with a credit card. Just don't.

Word to the wise—keep a money diary

Keep a money diary by writing down every expenditure, no matter how small. Not only will you know where the money goes, but you will also automatically spend less because no one wants to write down lamebrain purchases.

Word to the
wise—“on sale” doesn't guarantee savings

Myth: Buying things on sale is a great way to save money. Truth: Buying things on sale is a way to spend less money, but it has absolutely nothing to do with saving money.

Word to the wise—save money no matter what

Regardless of how much in debt you are or how little money you make, saving something consistently in a special place or account is going to change your attitude. Saving even a few dollars each week helps fill the emptiness that drives some of us to spend. Something of everything you earn is yours to keep.

Word to the wise—
skip extended warranty coverage

As a general rule, extended warranty coverage on anything is a waste of money. Modern-day appliances, automobiles, and electronic equipment will operate well during the first year or 3, or whatever time the extended warranty covers. And most of these items come with some kind of a warranty anyway. You'd be better off taking that same amount of money and putting it into an interest-bearing account. That way when the item doesn't break down, you will not have thrown your money down the drain.

Word to the wise—spending rule of thumb

Stop spending money you do not have in your
possession—today. This means no charging on credit cards, no borrowing from friends or relatives. If that sounds too radical and impossible, agree not to incur any debt just for today. Taking it one day at a time is really much easier.

Word to the wise—start giving

Every life well lived should be giving back regularly; then that life will have meaning. When we are the neediest is when we should be giving the most. Financial bondage is a dead giveaway for an out-of-balance life.

Word to the
wise—stop spending more than you have

Stop spending more money than you have. Consciously begin today to reduce expenses so that your outgo never exceeds your income.

Word to
the wise—stop trying to impress others

Stop trying to impress other people. If you can stop spending according to demands put on your life by others (through peer pressure or the necessity to keep up), you will see a tremendous difference in the way you spend.

Barbecue—charcoal fire

To build a perfect charcoal fire for the barbecue, fill each slot of two or three empty cardboard egg cartons with briquettes. Set them in the barbecue, light the cartons, and you have a perfect charcoal arrangement with no lighter fluid required.

Barbecue—coals reused

After the food has cooked, don't let the coals burn themselves out. Scoop them up into an empty can and smother them by placing a nonflammable lid over the can. They can be used again.

Barbecue—fire up with a
pinecone

For a fast, hot, and fume-free blaze, set a dry pinecone in the bottom of the barbecue. Build a pyramid of charcoal around it. Start your fire by igniting the pinecone.

Barbecue—propane check

Never sure how much propane is left in the barbecue tank? Make a streak down the side with a wet sponge. Moisture
will evaporate from the upper, empty part more quickly.

Barbecue—vinyl tablecloth
cover

Fold an old vinyl tablecloth in half and sew up the sides to make a cover for your outdoor barbecue grill.

Beach—bag for shells

Use mesh onion sacks for gathering shells at the beach. They're strong and they sift out most of the sand by themselves. When you get home, rinse the sack and its contents under an outdoor faucet, and you won't get a speck of sand in the house.

Beach—bag for wet suits

Take a large, resealable plastic bag to the beach with
¼
cup of baking soda inside. Use it to bring home wet suits. Just put them in the bag and shake. The soda absorbs moisture and helps prevent mildew and scary smells until you can get the suits properly laundered.

Beach—pocket on a towel

Sew a coordinating washcloth to a beach towel along three sides and use a Velcro-type fastener to close the fourth. Now you and your kids have an instant pocket for keys, coins, or suntan lotion.

Beach—sand-free radio

When you go to the beach, carry your radio in a resealable plastic bag. You can operate it without ever opening the bag. It will stay sand-free and completely dry.

Birds—bath

Now that you have a beautiful yard and garden, invite songbirds to splish and splash and entertain you. Pick up a green 12-inch-diameter drip tray—the kind used under a potted plant. Put the tray on the ground in a sheltered part of the garden, positioning rocks or small logs around the perimeter. Put a large rock in the middle of the bath to act as an island. Fill with water
and wait for the action. Flush and replace the water every 2 to 3 days.

Birds—feeder

A milk carton makes a good bird feeder. Cut out large windows on all 4 sides, leaving 2 inches at the top and bottom. Poke holes through the top of the carton, run a string through the holes, and hang the carton on a tree branch. Add a dowel, stick, or skewer for a perch. Fill the bottom with bird food. Try decorating the feeder with adhesive-backed shelf paper.

Birds—keep
out of the fruit

Save dirty, yellowed, or torn lace curtains to cover your strawberry patch or raspberry bushes to keep birds from stealing the fruit.

Birds—nest-building material

Help the birds with their spring nest-building chores. Collect the lint from your clothes dryer, tie it up in a ball with string, and hang it in your backyard.

Birds—treat

Smear a pinecone with peanut butter and hang it from a tree in your garden for a bird treat.

Boating—floating keys

Tie a couple of corks to your key ring when you go boating. If you accidentally drop your keys overboard, they won't sink.

Bugs and
such—ants

Follow the ants' trail to their point of entry into your house and seal it with caulk. Then find their nest at the other end of their trail and destroy it by pouring several gallons of boiling water into the entrance, stirring it up, and pouring on more boiling water.

Bugs and such—ants, on hummingbird feeder

Ants can't climb up to a hummingbird feeder if you cover
the pole or cord with petroleum jelly or baby oil, reapplying every 2 weeks or after it rains. To keep ants out of the house, seal the point of entry with toothpaste, caulk, or masking tape.

Bugs and such
—ants, spiders, and others

To prevent ants, spiders, and other bugs from entering your home or another structure, spray the foundation and the grout within a foot of the wall with a mixture of
½
cup ground lemon, including the rind (you can puree the lemon in a blender or food processor), and 1 gallon of water. Apply with a garden watering can. Not only is the weak solution versatile, it's mild, cheap, and environmentally safe.

Bugs and such
—aphids

Mix 1 gallon water, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and 2 tablespoons Ivory Liquid. Spray on plants where aphid damage is evident.

Bugs and such—aphids, on roses

Add 2 drops of liquid dish soap to a quart of water. Pour into a spray bottle and spray plants periodically. This is especially effective on rose-loving aphids.

Bugs and such
—bees, on hummingbird feeder

If you apply Vaseline to the feeding spouts of your hummingbird feeder, the bees will not bother it. The Vaseline makes the bees get stuck, which they don't like. The hummingbirds are unharmed by this sticky situation.

Bugs and such—cutworms, infestation

If your garden is infested with ants or cutworms, sprinkle used coffee grounds on the affected area.

Bugs and such—cutworms, shield

Remove the bottom out of an empty tuna can and sink the “ring” that's left into the soil
around a young seedling. This will keep cutworms away from the plant.

Bugs and such—flies (bay leaves)

Crush bay leaves between your fingers, and then rub your fingers over your skin to repel gnats. Crushed bay leaves are good for repelling flies and mosquitoes too.

Bugs and such—flies (rubbing
alcohol)

Rubbing alcohol makes a great fly and insect spray. The fine mist evaporates quickly and is not harmful to anyone but the pests. This doesn't necessarily kill them, but it anesthetizes the little guys, so once they're asleep, dispose of them quickly.

Bugs and such—flies (sweet
basil)

Pots of sweet basil placed strategically around your patio, swimming pool, or doorway repel flies.

Bugs and such—flies
on garbage cans

Sprinkle dry soap or borax into garbage cans after they've been washed and allowed to dry; it acts as a fly repellent.

Bugs and such—mosquitoes

Plant basil and pansies around your patio and house to repel mosquitoes. Mint planted around the house repels flies. Keep basil well watered so that it produces a stronger scent. Dried ground basil leaves left in small bowls or hung in muslin bags are also effective.

Bugs and such—repellent
, all-purpose

Mix 1 clove garlic chopped, 1 small onion chopped, and 1 tablespoon cayenne powder to 1 quart of water. Allow to steep 1 hour, then add 1 tablespoon of Ivory Liquid. This all-purpose insect spray remains potent for only 1 week, so use it up.

Bugs and
such—repellent, dryer sheets

A Bounce fabric softener dryer sheet rubbed over your skin or pinned to your hair will keep certain insects such as gnats away as you work in the garden.

Bugs and such—repellent, marigolds

It's true, marigolds really do discourage insects. No scary chemicals involved. Just plant these beautiful flowers among your vegetables for natural pest control.

Bugs and such—slugs, snails, cutworms, and grubs

Protect flowers and vegetables from slugs, snails, cutworms, and grubs by scattering lettuce leaves or citrus rinds around them. The pests will attach themselves to the food, which should be removed daily and replaced.

Bugs and such—wasps

In a pinch use hair spray to kill wasps. As long as you get some of the product on their wings, they'll go down.

Bugs and such—whiteflies, spider mites, mealybugs
, cinch bugs, and aphids

Mix 3 tablespoons Ivory Liquid in 1 gallon water and mix well. Fill a sprayer with the soapy solution and mist the leaves of plants and bushes to kill these little pests.

Bugs and such—worms
, on cabbage and broccoli

Here's a safe way to bust pests that bother your cabbage and broccoli plants! Dust the plants in late afternoon with baking soda. The mixture of morning dew settling on the soda will form an antiworm enzyme that won't harm humans. It will wash off easily with a little water.

Bugs and such—worms
, on tomatoes

Worms won't bother your tomatoes if you plant a few sprigs of dill nearby.

Critters—cats, in
the garden

To keep cats out of the garden, put fir boughs around shrubs or spray the area with a weak dilution of vinegar and water.

Critters—cats, in the
window box

If your cat is digging in a window box, put pinecones around the plants. If the window box contains seedlings, staple screening over the top of the box until the plants mature a bit.

Critters—gophers and deer

Dog hair, available from a dog groomer, will repel gophers and other annoying furry pests. Human hair (get clippings from the local beauty salon) will repel deer, rabbits, and other garden invaders.

Critters—in garbage cans

Sprinkle a small amount of household ammonia in your outdoor garbage cans. Animals will be repelled by the strong odor.

Critters—rabbits

Sprinkle dried red pepper around the base of plants to keep rabbits away.

Critters—snails

Snails will turn around and go the other way rather than cross a protective border of sand, lime, or ashes.

Critters—snails and slugs

To keep snails and slugs out of your garden, sink pie pans into the soil so the rims are flush with the ground. Fill with beer. The slugs and snails will be attracted to the beer, which will be their final undoing. (This is a lovely object lesson for kids who think it's cool to drink beer!) Simply empty the pie pans when they get full.

Critters—squirrels, and attics

To keep squirrels out of your attic, get rid of any tree branches that hang over your house and outbuildings so the
squirrels can't use them as ladders.

Critters—squirrels, and
bird feeders

If your bird feeders are being pillaged by furry marauders, divert their attention with this simple ploy: Hang dried ears of corn, a favorite food of squirrels, from a tree some distance away from your bird offerings.

Florist
-prepared plants

When you receive live floral plants in those beautifully wrapped containers, the wrapping materials may become deadly to the plant. The pot in which the plant is planted has holes at the bottom, but the foil or plastic wrapping prevents drainage. To eliminate this problem, hold the wrapping high, punch a hole in the center, tear outward, and with scissors carefully cut all around to within an inch or so of the edge. The overall appearance is left undisturbed, the water can drain properly, and the plant will be able to thrive.

Flower cutting

The best time to cut flowers is in the early morning while they still have some moisture from the cool night air and the morning dew.

Furniture—cleaning resin

Make a good lather with dish-washing detergent, household ammonia, and warm water. Sponge the lather on and wash gently. Don't use an abrasive sponge. For heavy stains, use a solution of bleach and water, but don't allow the bleach and ammonia to come in contact with each other. Restore the furniture's shiny finish by applying a coat of car wax.

Furniture
—protecting plastic

The bright colors of outdoor plastic furniture, kids' gyms, and so on can fade from regular exposure to the sun. But you can prevent them from fading with a protective coat of car wax. The wax also repels dirt and grime, which makes for quick and easy cleanups.

Garden—temporary for kids and beginners

Make a temporary garden out of a plastic kids' pool. It's just the right size for beginners and children because it can be placed in the best light and can be disassembled and put away for the winter.

Garden hose—leather belt holder

Use an old leather belt to store your garden hose. Wind up the hose, slip the belt through the loops, buckle it, and hang it from a nail in your garage or basement.

Garden hose—old tire holder

Keep your garden hose rolled in an old tire. It will stay clean, dry, and ready to use.

Garden hose—sticking

To prevent the hose end from becoming attached to the spigot so tightly that you can't remove it without tools, rub a light coating of petroleum jelly on the garden hose nozzle and the spigot to keep them from sticking.

Gardening—cart

Use a child's plastic snow sled as an off-season garden cart. It glides easily over the grass for cleanup chores and is especially handy when it's time to lift and divide clumps of perennials.

Gardening
—cleanup with denture cleaner or sugar

Two ways to remove garden soil from your hands and from beneath your fingernails: (1) Soak your hands in water in which one of those denture-cleaning tablets has dissolved. An added bonus: soft cuticles; (2) After a day of gardening, wash your hands with soap and water and a teaspoon of regular table sugar. The rough granules will scour your hands clean.