tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81449316957942690182024-03-05T04:18:46.576-05:00Money Saving IdeasHello, glad you dropped by. My blog will have money saving tips for you. The tips will vary depending on what is in need, and things that I learn about. If you have a question or suggestion for a topic, leave me a comment. <big>If you enjoyed this blog, vote for me over on the right side just above the first group of ads.</big> Thanks for visiting!
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Also, scroll to the very bottom of the blog before you leave to watch some travel video's (not mine) from YouTube.MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-59289337150762886442009-04-09T20:03:00.003-04:002009-04-11T08:30:04.841-04:00Miracle Uses For Household Products - Bonus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); LINE-HEIGHT: 18pxfont-family:'Trebuchet MS';" ><span class="Apple-style-span">These appeared in our local paper and I thought that I would share them with my readers. As you know there are avid followers of vinegar and duct tape. Well, here are some other items and things you can do with them. I'll cover more of them in later blogs. By the way, I have not tested these, so test them yourselves, no guarantees.</span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">By the way, if you get a chance and need a laugh, check out my joke blog, </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.zjokes4u.blogspot.com/">ZJokes4U</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Bonus Tips sent in by Readers: (Not tested, use at your own risk)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><h2><span style="font-size:100%;">Baking soda</span></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Use baking soda and a slightly dampened cloth to polish up white shoes, sneakers, soccer balls, bike seats and purses.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2><span style="font-size:100%;">Coffee filters</span></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Clean windows and mirrors. Filters are lint free.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Protect good dishes by putting a filter between each dish.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Filter broken cork from wine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Protect cast iron skillets. Place filter in skillet to absorb moisture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Recycle frying oil by straining through filter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Hold tacos. Filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Stop soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line pot with filter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Poke Popsicle stick through filter to keep drips off your hands.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Use strips of filters to wax eyebrows.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Keep in bathroom. Great “razor nick fixers.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2><span style="font-size:100%;">Dryer sheets</span></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Place inside heating/air conditioning vents for an air freshener. They also will catch dirt.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a dryer sheet will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Wipe window blinds with a dryer sheet to clean them and prevent dust from resettling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sandpapering. A used dryer sheet will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2><span style="font-size:100%;">Epsom salt</span></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Put a handful of Epsom salt in a bowl and add a little water. Apply solution to poison ivy periodically with a cotton ball to dry out the rash.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">Nail polish<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Apply a small drop of clear nail polish to the threads of eyeglass screws before tightening them. It will prevent them from loosening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2><span style="font-size:100%;">Non-</span><a href="http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/index.html?cxntlid=linkr"><span style="COLOR: #4f81bd; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-theme: nonefont-size:100%;color:#ace010;" >diet</span></a><span style="font-size:100%;"> cola</span></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> If you’re driving while it’s raining and your windshield gets nasty on the outside, after you stop, pour non-<a href="http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/index.html?cxntlid=linkr"><span style="color:#004488;">diet</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>cola (some readers swear by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/coke/index.html?cxntlid=linkr"><span style="color:#004488;">Coca-Cola</span></a>) all over the outside and it immediately clears it up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">Orange Pledge furniture polish<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Removes gasoline smell from hands.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Arial;" >>If you have trouble with yellow jackets and buy one of the yellow jacket traps, use root beer or Coca-Cola to draw the yellow jackets into the trap.</span></p><h2><span style="font-size:100%;">Vodka</span></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2><span style="font-size:100%;">WD-40</span></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">> Removes all traces of duct tape.<o:p></o:p></span></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div></span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-3961083905764371452009-04-09T19:46:00.004-04:002009-04-18T06:36:48.311-04:00Miracle Uses For Household Products - Part 6<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">These appeared in our local paper and I thought that I would share them with my readers. As you know there are avid followers of vinegar and duct tape. Well, here are some other items and things you can do with them. I'll cover more of them in later blogs. By the way, I have not tested these, so test them yourselves, no guarantees.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">By the way, if you get a chance and need a laugh, check out my joke blog, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><a href="http://www.zjokes4u.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ZJokes4U</span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><h2><a name="_Toc226002592"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Oatmeal</span></a></h2> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Treat itchy poison ivy or chicken pox by soaking in an oatmeal bath. Grind 1 cup of oatmeal into a thin powder, pour into cheesecloth or into a clean old stocking and tie into a knot. Suspend the bag under the faucet as it fills with warm water.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Eat oatmeal each day for 365,025 days and you will have lived to be 100 years old (LOL, although that is what my 101 year old Mom has for breakfast each morning). </span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <h2><a name="_Toc226002593"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Olive Oil</span></a></h2> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Five uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. Polish wood furniture with a teaspoon of oil and a soft rag.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. Lubricate measuring cups and spoons for easy cleanup of sticky ingredients such as honey, grain mustards and syrups.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Control hair frizz by combing a bit of olive oil through dry hair to tame the frizz and flyaway’s on humid days or in the winter.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. Free a stuck zipper. Use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the teeth of a zipper, and then gently ease the tab down.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5. Remove paint from your skin.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Calibri;color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6. Fix a squeaky door by using a rag or cotton swab to apply olive oil to the top of a problematic hinge.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); line-height: 14px;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); line-height: 14px;font-family:Arial;"><h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">TISSUE BOX (EMPTY)</span></h2> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. Store empty plastic grocery bags.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">VINEGAR</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: .5in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:15.6pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Arial;color:#111111;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1.</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Remove stubborn price tags or stickers. Paint them with several coats of vinegar, let the liquid soak in for five minutes, then wipe away the residue.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: .5in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:15.6pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Arial;color:#111111;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2.</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Spray on weeds to kill them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. Make wool sweaters fluffier. Drop in a couple of capfuls of vinegar during the rinse cycle for an extra-soft feel.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Kill weeds between cracks in paving stones and sidewalks. Fill a spray bottle with straight vinegar and spray multiple times.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">WINE BOTTLE (EMPTY)</span></h2> <p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:15.6pt"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. Put in boots to prevent crease line.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p></span></div></span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-4954183130280798612009-04-09T18:28:00.006-04:002009-04-16T15:29:55.088-04:00Miracle Uses For Household Products - Part 5<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); LINE-HEIGHT: 18pxfont-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">These appeared in our local paper and I thought that I would share them with my readers. As you know there are avid followers of vinegar and duct tape. Well, here are some other items and things you can do with them. I'll cover more of them in later blogs. By the way, I have not tested these, so test them yourselves, no guarantees.<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">By the way, if you get a chance and need a laugh, check out my joke blog, </span><a href="http://www.zjokes4u.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ZJokes4U</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><h2><a name="_Toc226002587"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Marshmallows</span></a></h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">> Stop ice cream drips by placing a large marshmallow in the bottom of the cone before adding the ice cream.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">> Keep brown sugar soft by adding a few marshmallows to the bag before closing it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><h2><a name="_Toc226002588"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mayonnaise</span></a></h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Four uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. Condition your hair by massaging it into your hair and scalp. Cover your head with a shower cap, wait several minutes, then shampoo.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. Relieve sunburn pain by slathering mayonnaise liberally over the affected area.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Clean piano keys. If the keys to your piano are starting to yellow, tickle the ivories with a little mayonnaise applied with a soft cloth. Wait a few minutes, wipe with a damp cloth and buff.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. Remove bumper stickers by rubbing some mayonnaise over the entire sticker. Let it sit for several minutes and wipe it off. It will also remove tar and pine sap.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><h2><a name="_Toc226002589"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Milk</span></a></h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Four uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. Use milk to shave with if you have nothing else to use as a barrier.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. Clean patent leather shoes to a gleaming shine by rubbing them with a little milk on a soft cloth. Leave to dry and then buff them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Remove ink stains on clothing by soaking the area in milk. This can take from half an hour to overnight to remove the stain completely.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. Repair fine cracks in china plates and cups by boiling them in milk. The milk reacts with the kaolin in china and closes the crack. Place the plate in a pan, cover it with milk (fresh or reconstituted powdered milk) and bring to a boil. As soon as it starts to boil, lower the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><h2><a name="_Toc226002590"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nail Polish</span></a></h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Five uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. Make cup measurements visible by using a brightly colored polish to trace over basic measurement levels.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. Mark levels inside a bucket with a color that stands out.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Seal an envelope by brushing a little polish on the underside of the flap.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. Protect your belt buckle’s shine by covering new or just-shined belt buckles with a coat of clear polish.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5. Stop a windshield crack from spreading by brushing both sides of the glass with polish to fill it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><h2><a name="_Toc226002591"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Non-Diet Soda</span></a></h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Four uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. Clean car battery terminals. The acidic properties will eliminate corrosion. Pour some soda over the battery terminals and let it set. Remove the sticky residue with a wet sponge.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. Loosen rusted-on nuts and bolts. Soak a rag in the soda and wrap it around the bolt for several minutes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Make cut flowers last longer by pouring about a half-cup into the water in a vase full of cut flowers. The sugar in the soda will make the blossoms last longer.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. Clear out a slow drain by pouring a 2-liter bottle of cola down the drain to help remove the clog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></span></div>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-37530866416433676962009-04-09T18:20:00.010-04:002009-04-14T15:13:37.275-04:00Miracle Uses For Household Products - Part 4<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); LINE-HEIGHT: 18pxfont-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These appeared in our local paper and I thought that I would share them with my readers. As you know there are avid followers of vinegar and duct tape. Well, here are some other items and things you can do with them. I'll cover more of them in later blogs. By the way, I have not tested these, so test them yourselves, no guarantees.<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By the way, if you get a chance and need a laugh, check out my joke blog, </span><a href="http://www.zjokes4u.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ZJokes4U</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><h2><a name="_Toc226002582"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Grocery Bags</span></a></h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Five uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Preserve paint brushes. To keep brushes and rollers from drying out, place them in bags and tie them or wrap them with rubber bands to keep air out. The tools will stay moist and protected for a day or so.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Bulk up curtain valances by stuffing them in the valances for a resilient pouf. Can also be used to stuff crafts or pillows.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Treat chapped hands by rubbing with a thick layer of petroleum jelly and placing them in a plastic bag for 15 minutes to half an hour.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. Keep one or two stashed in your car to use as a trash bag.</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. If you are picking berries (blue berries, blackberries, etc), slip a hand through each loop and simply pick and drop right into the bag without having to hold a container. </span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span></span></o:p></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">H</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><a name="_Toc226002583"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">oney</span></a></span></o:p></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Three uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Soak in a milk and honey bath. Add about 1/3 cup of honey to 2 1/4 cups of milk. Mix thoroughly. You can even add a few drops of essential oil to give your honey milk bath additional scent.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Treat minor skin abrasions and wounds with honey’s antibacterial and antifungal properties. Apply a small amount twice daily to a wound or burn to speed up the healing process.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Help a hangover by spooning a few tablespoons of honey on toast for breakfast. The fructose speeds up the metabolism of alcohol.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><h2><a name="_Toc226002584"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ice cube trays</span></a></h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Organize jewelry, small nuts and bolts and buttons in easy-to-stack trays.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><h2><a name="_Toc226002585"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ketchup</span></a></h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Get rid of chlorine green hair with a ketchup shampoo. Massage ketchup generously into your hair and leave it for 15 minutes, then wash it out, using baby shampoo. Wonder if you would then be red headed, LOL!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Clean the bottoms of copper pans by spreading ketchup over the copper portion. Let sit for about 15 to 20 minutes, wipe off and rinse.</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><h2><a name="_Toc226002586"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lemon</span></a></h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Five uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Relieve a sore throat. Cut a lemon in half. Skewer one half over a medium flame on a gas stove or an electric burner set on high and roast until the peel turns golden brown. Let cool slightly, then mix the juice with 1 teaspoon of honey.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Whiten fingernails. Rub a wedge on the surface of your nails.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Remove soft cheese or other sticky foods from a grater. Rub both sides of the grater with the pulp side of a cut lemon.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. Create blond highlights by adding 1/4 cup lemon juice to 3/4 cup water and rinse your hair with the mixture. Then sit in the sun until your hair dries. Lemon juice is natural bleach.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. Giving your pets a lemon rinse after their bath to keep fleas and ticks away. Fleas and ticks don’t like citrus. Squeeze 6 lemons into a gallon of water, heat on the stove to a boil. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Use as a final rinse (don’t rinse out the lemon). </span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></span></div>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-70924651410345470492009-04-09T18:06:00.007-04:002009-04-11T08:31:55.292-04:00Miracle Uses For Household Products - Part 3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)">These appeared in our local <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">paper and I thought that I would share them with my readers. As you know there are avid followers of vinegar and duct tape. Well, here are some other items and things you can do with them. I'll cover more of them in later blogs. By the way, I have not tested these, so test them yourselves, no guarantees.</span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By the way, if you get a chance and need a laugh, check out my joke blog, </span><a href="http://www.zjokes4u.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ZJokes4U</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><h2><a name="_Toc226002578"><span style="font-size:100%;">Cotton balls</span></a></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fight mildew in hard-to-reach spots in the bathroom. Soak a few cotton balls in bleach and place them in those difficult spots. Leave them to work their magic for a few hours. Finish by rinsing with a warm-water wash.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><h2><a name="_Toc226002579"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dish detergent</span></a></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. Get a better manicure by soaking fingernails in the soapy solution, rinse and apply polish. The polish will adhere better to the nail and spread smoother.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. Pre-treat oil-based laundry stains, such as lipstick and grease.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. Soak your oily and grimy tools to get them clean.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. Kill pet fleas by washing</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="Arial: ; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareastfont-family:';color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://pets.yourajc.com/?cxntlid=linkr"><span style="font-family:';color:#004488;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">pets</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="Arial: ; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareastfont-family:';color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">in a soapy water bath. ( See Lemons in a later post)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Arial;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5. Use New Dawn detergent and mix in a quarter cup with a gallon of water and spray around your house where ants are coming in and they will avoid that area. Also, I noticed that if you spray the aunts directly, it kills them in about 10 seconds.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Arial;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><h2><a name="_Toc226002580"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dryer sheets</span></a></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. Repel mosquitoes on your patio. Hang a sheet when outdoors during the mosquito season.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. Freshen the air by placing an individual sheet in a drawer, hang one in the closet, locker at the health club, locker at work or under the seat of your car or truck.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. Run a sewing needle through a sheet before sewing to prevent the thread from tangling.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. A sheet left inside luggage or travel baggage can prevent musty odors.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5. Eliminate static electricity from the television or computer screen.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">6. Dissolve soap scum from shower door and tile walls. Clean the surfaces with a sheet.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">7. Repel bees and bugs by tucking some in your picnic basket or under lawn furniture. You can also rub a sheet directly on your bare skin.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">8. Combat static on your clothes, stockings and hair by patting with a sheet.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">9. De-stink your</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="Arial: ; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareastfont-family:';color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://pets.yourajc.com/?cxntlid=linkr"><span style="font-family:';color:#004488;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">pets</span></span></a><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: scrub incoming dogs or cats (especially wet ones) with a dryer sheet before they enter the home.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">10. Soak cookware with burnt or baked-on food in warm water, with a dryer sheet or two. Makes clean-up easier than you’d expect. Also works on cook tops and dingy cabinet doors.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></o:p></span></p><h2><a name="_Toc226002581"><span style="font-size:100%;">Epsom Salt</span></a></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Four uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. Exfoliate skin by massaging handfuls of Epsom salt over wet skin, starting with your feet and continuing up toward the face. Have a bath to rinse.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. Remove excess oil from hair by adding 9 tablespoons of Epsom salt to a half-cup of oily hair shampoo. Apply one tablespoon of the liquid to your hair when it is dry; rinse with cold water. Next, pour lemon juice or organic apple cider vinegar through the hair, leave on for 5 to 10 minutes, and then rinse.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:';color:#111111;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. Remove a splinter by soaking in Epsom salt.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Arial;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. Soaking in an Epsom Salts bath is also good for any aches or pains.</span></span></p></div></span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-76851801242204843762009-04-09T17:39:00.007-04:002009-04-11T08:30:42.319-04:00Miracle Uses For Household Products - Part 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); LINE-HEIGHT: 18pxfont-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These appeared in our local paper and I thought that I would share them with my readers. As you know there are avid followers of vinegar and duct tape. Well, here are some other items and things you can do with them. I'll cover more of them in later blogs. By the way, I have not tested these, so test them yourselves, no guarantees.</span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By the way, if you get a chance and need a laugh, check out my joke blog, </span><a href="http://zjokes4u.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ZJokes4U</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><h2><a name="_Toc226002575"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Baking soda</span></a></h2><h2><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">15 uses</span></span></h2><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. Extinguish a grease or electrical fire. Scatter the powder by the handful to safely put it out.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. Clean combs and brushes in a soda solution.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. Wash glass or stainless steel coffee pots (but not aluminum) in a soda solution (3 tablespoons soda to 1 quart water).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. Sprinkle soda on barbecue grills, let soak, and then rinse off.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5. Sprinkle soda on greasy garage floor. Let stand, scrub and rinse.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">6. For a badly burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on food: pour a thick layer of soda directly onto the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle on just enough water so as to moisten the soda. Leave the pot overnight, then scrub it clean the next day.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">7. Soak your shower curtains in water and soda to clean them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">8. Sprinkle soda in tennis shoes, socks, boots and slippers to eliminate odor.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">9. Repel rain from your car windshield. Put gobs of baking soda on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">10. Soak dried beans in a mixture of soda and water to make them more digestible.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">11. Freshen your carpet and upholstered furniture. Sprinkle them with baking soda. Allow them to sit undisturbed for a half hour or so. Then vacuum.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">12. Eliminate water rings on your finished wood with a paste of baking soda and toothpaste. Dip a soft cloth in the paste and rub the water spots away.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">13. Get rid of ants in your house by mixing equal parts of baking soda and salt together. Sprinkle the mixture wherever you see the intruders coming in.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">14. Fill in some nail holes in a plastered wall with a paste of white toothpaste and baking soda.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:16;" >15. Clean coffee stains from your coffee mugs by mixing 1 part baking soda with 2 parts water and let sit in the cup over the stain overnight. Then scrub using the mixture and rinse. This <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">might</span></span> work for tea stains as well.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><h2><a name="_Toc226002576"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bananas</span></a></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Seven uses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. Polish leather shoes by using a de-stringed banana peel. Finish by buffing with a soft cloth or paper towel.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. Remove warts by rubbing the inside of a little piece of a banana peel on a wart every night for several weeks.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. Detract aphids by burying dried or cut-up banana peels a few inches deep around the base of rosebushes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. Nourish your skin by mashing a medium banana and combining with 1/4 cup plain yogurt and 2 tablespoons honey to make a facial mask. Leave on 20 minutes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5. Tenderize a roast by adding a peeled banana to the pan.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">6. Wipe your houseplant leaves down with the inside of a banana peel to remove dirt and leave a shine.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">7. Rub scraped knees with the inside of a banana peel to promote healing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><h2><a name="_Toc226002577"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Beer</span></a></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. Use beer instead of water in your favorite batter mix, and it will have a delicious flavor.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. Soften hair and add body with a beer shampoo. Mix a raw egg together with half a can of beer and massage it into your hair. Rinse and style as usual. Beer also makes an excellent conditioner for hair. Massage a cup of warm beer into your hair and scalp after washing and allow it to set for half an hour or so. Rinse thoroughly.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. Fertilize plants. Use all of those half-filled bottles and cups of beer after a party to pour on your houseplants and garden vegetables. The plants will love the nourishment that the yeast adds to the soil.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="Arial: ;color:#111111;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. Get rid of slugs in your garden. Put a shallow dish of beer into your soil buried up to the lip. The slugs will be attracted to the beer and become stuck in it. Empty the dish each day and replace with new beer as they are attracted to the smell.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-36993422203041301732009-04-02T09:26:00.008-04:002009-04-02T10:25:01.831-04:00How I Studied for and Attained My PMP Certification<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family:Georgia, serif;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Acquiring </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">your PMP certification is not an easy task. Listed below is what I did to acquire my PMP.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1) Gathered my experience as a Project Manager and documenting all of the hours that I had spend on each activity. This is very time consuming, but a necessary part of the application for the exam. Go to the </span><a href="http://www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/AboutCredentialsPMP.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PMI</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> website to get details for applying for the PMP and make sure you get these hours documented properly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2) Being the miser (LOL) that I am, I began searching for the best place to acquire the necessary 35 contact hours (aka training) that is required in order to apply to take the PMP exam. I found a website that offered MP3 podcasts (you can listen to them on your PC or MP3 player) for only $99. Everyone else wanted a few thousand $ to do this. It is called the </span><a href="http://www.premiumcast.com/vp/19/13926/10235/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PrepCast</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> and I believe they have a special running right now for $49. That is a fantastic price. If you need the 35 hours, this is a great deal. They are recognized by PMI as a provider of training.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3) I joined </span><a href="http://pmi.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PMI</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, because you get the PMBOK guide and access to their website. Plus, you get a discount on the exam, which pays for that first year PMI membership. I printed out all of the exam application forms and began completing those on paper, so I would be prepared to enter the information on the website. The website will time you out if you are slow entering your application.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4) I submitted my hours to my former supervisors to make sure that they agreed with the hours I was reporting, in case I got audited. Plus, it gave me a chance to reconnect with them and all of them offered to be a reference for me for job applications (an extra benefit). I got this tip from having listened to one of the </span><a href="http://www.premiumcast.com/vp/19/13926/10235/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PrepCast</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> sessions.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5) I began studying by listening to the </span><a href="http://www.premiumcast.com/vp/19/13926/10235/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PrepCast</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> and following along in the PMBOK and making notes as I went. These notes helped me to retain, plus I had noted important definitions, formula's, etc. In the PrepCast, Cornelius Fichner </span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family:Georgia, serif;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">simplifies </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and gives examples of concepts, making it easier to retain.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6) As soon as I felt that I would be ready for the exam within 2 months, I went to the PMI site and submitted my application for the exam.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7) I purchased </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932735003?ie=UTF8&tag=yohosa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1932735003"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep Guide</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, where I read each chapter, did the exercises, took the exam questions at the end, then reviewed any section where my test score was below 80, and retook the test for that chapter again.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8) I actually went through the PMBOK twice, but going through it while listening to the PrepCast was really sufficient.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">9) Once my application was approved, and I felt I would be ready within 3 weeks, I went to the website provided by PMI and scheduled myself to take the test. This was a real incentive to buckle down to make sure that I passed it the first time and didn't have to incur additional fees for retaking the exam. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10) I took the test, passed it, and celebrated.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">11) I ordered my business cards from </span><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/6s79lnwtnvAEDBCBKEACBDJIJGD"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">VistaPrint</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> with my PMP shown on the card.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was a tough exam and I give credit to the </span><a href="http://www.premiumcast.com/vp/19/13926/10235/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PrepCast</span></a><a href="http://www.premiumcast.com/vp/19/13926/10235/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">for the contact hours and study tips and to the </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932735003?ie=UTF8&tag=yohosa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1932735003"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mulcahy exam prep book</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> for getting me prepared and both saving me a few thousand dollars. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One word of warning, to prepare using this lesser expensive method, you do need to be someone who can study on your own, or within a study group. If you are not a self starter, you probably should cough up the many extra bucks, and take an exam prep course.</span></div>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-23459563316628298892009-03-30T15:53:00.005-04:002009-03-30T17:51:29.940-04:00Save your PC from the Conficker WormLast evening, on CBS 60 Minutes there was a story about a worm called Conficker that has many computers infected in the world. The unusual part about this worm is that right now it does not do anything to your PC, yet....<br /><br />What it does is check in periodically with whomever it's masters are to see if there are instructions for it to execute. So far the only thing the experts seem to know is that April 1 is a key date. However, they don't know what exactly is planned.<br /><br />However, what these guys are good at is stealing your passwords, login information and accessing your bank accounts to transfer money.<br /><br /><div>Here is the link to the story: <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4901282n">CBS 60 Minutes</a></div><br /><br />I don't mean to be an alarmist, and I don't have any advice. However this is what I am going to do. I am updating my virus and internet security on March 31st. Then I'm turning off my PC and will not turn it back on until April 2nd, and even then I am going to immediately get my updates from Norton for Virus and Internet Security. (The Windows Secret Magazine article listed below says that the worm is to check for instructions on April 1 and could continue for weeks after, so my strategy is now to keep my Norton Internet Security up to date, it does this automatically).<br /><br />Hopefully, this will be much ado about nothing, but in either case, I'm keeping my PC off that day.<br /><br />At least watch the video.<br /><br />Here are a couple of sites with more details: <a href="http://windowssecrets.com/">http://windowssecrets.com/</a><br /><br />According to Symantec Corp, if you are running Internet Security 2009 or Norton 360 2009, you are protected. If not, there are free trial versions available at this Symantec link: <a href="http://www.symantec.com/norton/theme.jsp?themeid=conficker_worm&inid=us_ghp_link_conficker_worm">http://www.symantec.com/norton/theme.jsp?themeid=conficker_worm&inid=us_ghp_link_conficker_worm</a><a href="http://www.symantec.com/norton/theme.jsp?hemeid=conficker_worm&inid=us_ghp_link_conficker_worm"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.symantec.com/"></a>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-57988699250319675832009-03-28T19:30:00.004-04:002009-04-11T08:31:25.191-04:00Miracle Uses for Common Household ProductsThese appeared in our local paper and I thought that I would share them with my readers. As you know there are avid followers of vinegar and duct tape. Well, here are some other items and things you can do with them. I'll cover more of them in later blogs. By the way, I have not tested these, so test them yourselves, no guarantees. <div><br /></div><div>By the way, if you get a chance and need a laugh, check out my joke blog, <a href="http://www.zjokes4u.blogspot.com/">ZJokes4U</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><h2><a name="_Toc226002572"><span style="font-size:100%;">Alka-Seltzer</span></a></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">1. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets; wait 20 minutes, brush and flush.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">2. Attract fish. Fill a tube jig with a piece of Alka-Seltzer and cast off.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">3. Remove burned food from cookware. Fill your cookware with warm water, then dissolve six tablets and allow to sit for an hour or so.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">4. Soothe insect bites. Dissolve two tablets in water and saturate a cloth or cotton ball with the solution, and place on the bite for 30 minutes. Don’t do this if you are allergic to aspirin, which is a key ingredient in Alka-Seltzer. An alternative suggested by our family Dr is meat tenderizer. Moisten the sting/bite and immediately put a heavy dose of meat tenderizer on it. Quicker is better because it counteracts the poison.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2><a name="_Toc226002573"><span style="font-size:100%;">Aluminum foil</span></a></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">1. Sharpen your scissors by cutting through six to eight layers of aluminum foil.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">2. Shine rusty chrome. With a bit of water on a wadded-up piece of aluminum foil, you can rub most rust spots off chrome car parts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">3. Keep birds out of your fruit trees. Hang twisted strips of aluminum foil all over your fruit trees using fishing line. The light reflections and the sound will keep birds away from your fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">4. Keep the bottom of your fireplace or charcoal grill from becoming encrusted with soot. Line the bottom of your fireplace or grill with aluminum foil before starting a fire, then dispose of the foil after the fire is out and the coals are completely cooled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">5. Eliminate electromagnetic interference if your TV and DVD player are stacked on top of each other. If the picture is fuzzy, place a sheet of aluminum foil between them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">6. Iron more effectively by putting a piece of aluminum foil under the ironing board cover. The foil will reflect the heat from the iron so both sides get ironed at once.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">7. Move furniture with ease. To slide big pieces of furniture over a smooth floor, place small pieces of aluminum foil under the legs. Put the dull side of the foil down —- the dull side is actually more slippery than the shiny side.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">8. Clean starch build-up from your iron by running a hot iron over a piece of aluminum foil.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2><a name="_Toc226002574"><span style="font-size:100%;">Aspirin</span></a></h2><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">1. Remove perspiration stains from white fabric by dissolving two aspirin in half a cup of warm water and applying to stained fabric. Leave for a couple of hours before washing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">2. Eliminate chlorine discoloration from hair by dissolving eight tablets in a glass of water and rubbing into your hair. Leave for about 10 minutes and then rinse. Shampoo.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">3. Reduce pimples by making a paste with water and crushed aspirin. Cover the pimple with this paste; rinse after a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#111111;">4. Recharge a car battery by dropping two tablets into the battery itself. The aspirin’s acetylsalicylic acid will combine with the battery’s sulfuric acid to produce one last charge. Drive to the nearest service station.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">(One note, most car batteries are sealed these days, so if it is sealed, leave it sealed. Also, I don't know if there might be some chemical reaction, so cover your eyes with protective glasses and cover your exposed skin). </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(17,17,17); FONT-STYLE: italicfont-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(17,17,17); FONT-STYLE: italicfont-family:Arial;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Let me know if any of these work for you.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 11.25pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 15.6pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(17,17,17); FONT-STYLE: italicfont-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></p></div></div>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-21743318162183328532009-03-12T08:52:00.004-04:002009-04-11T08:34:38.274-04:00Your Personal Economic Stimulus Plan<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:black;">Now here is story that reflects how people are feeling in general right now. In our little town, there was a story in the local paper about shops in town were closing. One lady said she couldn’t cut her costs anymore, so she was closing the shop because she didn't want to sign another year lease since she didn't know how the economy was going to do. It sounds like she is making a decision based on fear.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:black;"><o:p> This is the part that frustrates me. That means that the landlord is going to be without rental money for a while, so he will have less to spend. Why didn't she talk with him about a month to month lease, explaining her predicament, and possible impact to him if she closed her shop. She draws traffic, which has a positive effect on stores next door. She closes, some of that traffic will not materialize. See, it all feeds on itself.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:black;"><o:p> Maybe she did try to renegotiate, or was losing money at an un-sustainable rate, the story didn't elaborate, because it was too focused on the negative economic aspects.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> Now read this story on the opposite side of the economic fear spectrum.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:black;"><o:p> Last evening I saw a story on NBC nightly news segment called "Making a Difference". This was a story about a local pharmacist in Brewton, Al., a small town, with economic troubles of their own.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">Here is the bright spot. The pharmacist decided to begin his own economic stimulus plan. He ordered $16,000 from his local bank in $2 bills. He then called a store meeting. Some were afraid of pending bad news. You know the typical story these days, "Uh oh, layoffs or store closing!" Instead, the pharmacist gave out the $16,000 to the employees with these instructions.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:black;">Do not use this money to pay bills. Do not put it into savings. Do give 15% to charity. Do spend it all locally.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:black;"> The use of the $2 bills was to let people see how spending their money locally helped other local businesses. So off they went. One fellow needed two mattresses, so he bought one mattress at one store, and the other mattress at another store. Thus he was helping two store owners. They earned a profit, giving them money to spend at other local stores, and so on. They are seeing those $2 bills all through their town reminding them that they do help each other.</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">The moral to this story is if you are working, if you are part of the 91% employed, then get out there and spend a little bit locally. <br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">If we could get the 91%, to stop listening to the instant evening news about how bad everything is, our attitudes would improve, and slowly we would resume living a normal life. So turn that evening news off for a week and see if your attitude improves. If the 91% would start this spending plan, you would then see on the evening news "Consumer spending is on the rebound", wall street would go crazy, and your stocks and retirement funds would begin rising. Did you know there is $4 Trillion sitting on the sidelines waiting to renter the stock market, hoping to catch it at the bottom? Once the flood gate opens, it will be a tidal wave of buying and computerized trading.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">There are some great bargains to be had right now. Fall and winter clothing is on sale, so it is a great time to start that early Christmas, or birthday shopping now. You save money, you help stimulate the economy.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">Need a new car? This is the best time since 1974 to buy a new car. In fact, new cars are even close in price to late model used cars. Plus you can help those folks out in Michigan, and other states that supply parts, the truckers that carry those parts.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">You have the potential to create more jobs than anything stimulus plan that Congress can put into place. <br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">So if you are ready to go spend a bit of money, here is a website that offers advice on saving money by getting free shipping, coupons, etc. <a href="http://www.savemoney.com/"><span style="color:blue;">www.savemoney.com</span></a><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">and the <a href="http://www.savemoney.com/blogs/savemoney/">save money blog</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">Also, if you just need a good laugh to take your mind off all that emphasized depressing news, go to my joke blog, <a href="http://www.zjokes4u.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:blue;">www.zjokes4u.blogspot.com</span></a>, to help put a smile on your face.<br /></p></div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Let's get this economy moving!!!</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-92053913996625597392009-02-25T20:07:00.002-05:002009-04-11T08:34:38.275-04:00Laughter is the Best Medicine<div>One thing we can save is ourselves. We often hear that laughter is the best medicine. It really is!!</div><div><br /></div><div>We feel good when we are laughing, it is actually a form of exercise, and releases good things in our bodies.</div><div><br /></div><div>For this reason, I started a new blog:<a href="http://zjokes4u.blogspot.com/"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">http://zjokes4u.blogspot.com/</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you really need a reason to read a good joke and laugh (I don't need a reason), you can read the following that tells you about the benefits of laughter. This came from a CBS News report in 2006.</div><div><br /></div><div>We change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues.</div><div><br /></div><div>One pioneer in laughter research, William Fry, claimed it took 10 minutes on a rowing machine for his heart rate to reach the level it would after just one minute of hearty laughter.</div><div><br /></div><div>And laughter appears to burn calories, too. Maciej Buchowski, a researcher from Vanderbilt University, conducted a small study in which he measured the amount of calories expended in laughing. It turned out that 10-15 minutes of laughter burned 50 calories.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the last few decades, researchers have studied laughter's effects on the body and turned up some potentially interesting information on how it affects us:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Blood flow</span>. Researchers at the University of Maryland studied the effects on blood vessels when people were shown either comedies or dramas. After the screening, the blood vessels of the group who watched the comedy behaved normally — expanding and contracting easily. But the blood vessels in people who watched the drama tended to tense up, restricting blood flow.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Immune response.</span> Increased stress is associated with decreased immune system response, says Provine. Some studies have shown that the ability to use humor may raise the level of infection-fighting antibodies in the body and boost the levels of immune cells, as well.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Blood sugar levels</span>. One study of 19 people with diabetes looked at the effects of laughter on blood sugar levels. After eating, the group attended a tedious lecture. On the next day, the group ate the same meal and then watched a comedy. After the comedy, the group had lower blood sugar levels than they did after the lecture. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Relaxation and sleep. </span>The focus on the benefits of laughter really began with Norman Cousins' memoir, Anatomy of an Illness. Cousins, who was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a painful spine condition, found that a diet of comedies, like Marx Brothers films and episodes of Candid Camera, helped him feel better. He said that 10 minutes of laughter allowed him two hours of pain-free sleep. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">So hop on over to my newest blog and enjoy a good healthy Laugh!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://zjokes4u.blogspot.com/">http://zjokes4u.blogspot.com/</a></span></div><div><br /></div>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-77709466461855166182008-12-17T19:18:00.005-05:002009-04-11T08:34:38.275-04:00Sears Supports Military Families<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When I was a little fellow, there was no internet in our house, or any house as far as that goes. TV was black and white, no color. Our entertainment came from books, bible stories, comic books, and using our imagination while playing with friends. There was always the Christmas parade and the excitement that surrounded this part of the year both in church and school.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> There was one book that always came in the mail at this time of the year. When it arrived, I would quickly search through it for the toy section. There were colorful pictures of all types of toys. Everything from Lincoln Logs, to bicycles, to vibrating football games.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This book was the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sears catalog</span></span>, which was also known as the "Wishbook". This was mainly because many wishes were made while viewing its pages. I always envisioned playing with the different toys, knowing that I would most likely not see any of them. However, the entertainment was the imagination that the pictures invoked. It seemed that Sears had many pages of toys available for our little minds to play with. </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> We bought a lot of things from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sears</span>, it was the trusted store. If you bought it from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sears</span>, it would work and last a long time. </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> As I got older and the world expanded, more electronic stores and super stores came about, I strayed away from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sears</span>. In fact, I have not been in a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sears</span> store in probably four years. Well, after tonight that will change.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> I just saw a story on NBC news that spoke about how <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sears</span> has always supported its veterans. We hear many stories of families enduring hardship while they have had to go off to serve their country. Some have come back to find they have lost their job and maybe even their home.</span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Not at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sears</span>. In fact according to the story, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sears</span> actually pays the difference in what the employee would have been making while working at Sears, and what they are making while in the Service, while also maintaining their health insurance for their family. One fellow said he even got his bonus just as though he had been working for Sears. My friends, this illustrates that Sears seems to be a company that really cares about its employees and supports good values. Values seems to be something that seems to be in short supply in corporations and government this season.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;color:black;">That story about Sears really touched me. Sears has just regained a former customer</span><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;font-size:16pt;color:black;">. </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So I looked around and found that Sears gave out over 30,000 $100 gift cards to famlies through its "Heros at Home" program to support our military families. This is just a good corporation!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And let me go one step further to encourage you to shop at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sears</span></span>! <a href="http://www.sears.com/">www.sears.com</a><br /></p><div>Or even better drive over and walk around the store, pick up that last item you need for Christmas. The exercise will do us all some good. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the link to the story on NBC, you have to watch a 30 second commercial first, but the story is worth waiting for: <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#28285258">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#28285258</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>PS: I did manage to get some of those toys from Sears. Thanks Mom and Dad!!</div>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-47710444965423128572008-11-27T21:05:00.003-05:002009-04-11T08:34:38.276-04:00Shopping FrenzyWell, in a few hours Black Friday begins and along with it the start of the Christmas shopping season. I saw at one Best Buy people were already in line when the 6 PM news came on and Best buy doesn't open until 5 AM! I hope they get what they came for.<div><br /></div><div>Not me, I'm shopping from home this year. I spent the morning going through the ads and granted, I didn't look so much at the ladies items, but tended to look more at the electronics. There are some good buys to be had on large screen TV's (if you are already in line), but other than that, I didn't see a lot to get excited about.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, in the world of the internet, things can change quickly. Plus, there are other savings to consider, your gas, and in most cases taxes. </div><div><br /></div><div>So here are a few links for you to go straight to the deals pages of some sites, and maybe, just maybe they might give you some gift ideas, help you finish some of your shopping early, and save you a bit of that hard earned cash!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://linksynergy.walmart.com/fs-bin/click?id=/DFMdb86qPI&offerid=100143&type=10&tmpid=1081&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.walmart.com%252Fcatalog%252Fcatalog.gsp%253Fcat%253D1026699">Walmart Specials</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/?node=384082011&tag=yohosa-20">Amazon Black Friday deals</a></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3201093-10543970" target="_blank">Spa Gift Certificates</a><br /><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3201093-10543970" width="1" height="1" border="0" /><div><a href="http://affiliate.buy.com/gateway.aspx?adid=17662&aid=10389815&pid=3201093&sURL=http%3A//www.buy.com/retail/coupon.asp%3Fprid%3D83125283" target="_blank">Buy.Com</a><br /></div><img src="http://www.afcyhf.com/image-3201093-10389815" width="1" height="1" border="0" /><div><u style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3201093-10508485" style="text-decoration: none;">Perfume - Use code CJD2008 to </a></span><b style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3201093-10508485" style="text-decoration: none;">save 10% off</a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3201093-10508485" style="text-decoration: none;"> your entire order</a></span></u><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><img src="http://www.awltovhc.com/image-3201093-10508485" width="1" height="1" border="0" /><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3201093-10607958"> Dell Computer Black Friday Deals! </a><br /></div><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3201093-10607958"><br /></a><img src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-3201093-10607958" width="1" height="1" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-3201093-9224301" target="_blank">Online Exclusives - Find the Perfect Cruise</a><div><br /></div><div>Magazines make great gifts. I love the Handyman subscription and PC World magazines. And my PC World magazine subscription will run out this year (hint, hint).</div><div><br /></div><a target="new" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=/DFMdb86qPI&offerid=54694.10000905&subid=0&type=4"><img border="0" alt="Magazines.com, Inc." src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=/DFMdb86qPI&bids=54694.10000905&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=6" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><a target="new" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=/DFMdb86qPI&offerid=57302.10000220&type=3&subid=0">Beauty Products $10 off $60!</a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=/DFMdb86qPI&bids=57302.10000220&type=3&subid=0" /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a target="new" href="http://linksynergy.overstock.com/fs-bin/click?id=/DFMdb86qPI&offerid=139179.10000005&type=3&subid=0">Save up to 60% at Overstock.com!</a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=/DFMdb86qPI&bids=139179.10000005&type=3&subid=0" />MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-49534299552234946122008-11-26T15:18:00.002-05:002009-04-11T08:34:38.276-04:00Black Friday is Almost HereWell, it is Thanksgiving Eve, the pies are baking, the turkey will soon be prepped, and we will be sound asleep with drumsticks dancing in our heads! For the vegan's, that might be carrots dancing in your head, LOL!!.<br /><br />The day after Thanksgiving is called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/?node=384082011&tag=yohosa-20">Black Friday</a>, because that is the day that most retailers hope to go into the black (become profitable). All kinds of specials are out there, if, you are willing to be up at the wee hours of the morning, and stand in line.<br /><br />A few years ago, I thought this would be fun. There were a couple of items at the local electronics store that we were interested in, so we thought we would give it a try. We knew the store opened at 6 AM, so I thought that if we got there about 4:30, we would be first or close to first.<br /><br />I learned a couple of things from that experience. First of all, when we arrived, we were probably about #200 or more in line. Second, people had been there since midnight. Third, for the really big specials (you know those that say a minimum of 6 per store), they gave coupons to the first ones through that wanted those items. So if you wanted one of those, you probably had to have been there at midnight.<br /><br />Luckily, we did not need those items, and were able to get what we wanted plus a couple of things we did not plan on. Since that time, we have only ventured out once, but we didn't get up quite so early.<br /><br />This year some of the stores are going to open at midnight. I must admit, I can stay up until midnight much easier than getting up at 4 AM (I think). However, this year, I am going to telecommute with my shopping. I'm going to attend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/?node=384082011&tag=yohosa-20">Amazon's Black Friday sale</a> that starts at 3 AM on Friday morning. But I don't think that I will be at the PC at 3 AM. I'll probably be moaning about the amount of turkey I ate. If you want to join me, here is the link: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/?node=384082011&tag=yohosa-20">Amazon's Black Friday Sale.<br /></a><br />I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you counted your blessings, and had a successful Black Friday shopping experience.MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-87501971817265999822008-11-25T11:56:00.003-05:002009-04-11T08:34:38.277-04:00Kitchen Fires Happen Most Often on ThanksgivingThanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year. Friends, family, food, great conversation and lots of catching up to do.<br /><br />I just read an interesting article that said that more kitchen fires happen on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. Things happen. Your guests are arriving, someone spills something, the doorbell rings, the phone rings, the dog needs to be let out. Anything can happen to take you away from the kitchen.<br /><br />There are several products available to help you extinguish a kitchen fire, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SON4SI?ie=UTF8&tag=yohosa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SON4SI">Kitchen Fire Blanket</a> is one. It can be thrown over the top of a blazing pot or pan, however, if the fire has spread beyond the pot or pan, you will need a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IHUR58?ie=UTF8&tag=yohosa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000IHUR58">kitchen fire extinguisher</a>. We keep one of these in our pantry, just in case.<div><br /></div><div>If the fire has spread to the cabinets, obviously you need to call 911. Don't endanger yourself or the lives of others over "stuff". "Stuff" can be replaced, your friends and family cannot.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the link to the article that had some tips in them. <a href="http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20159806,00.html?xid=hinewsletter-112508-stove-safety">This Old House</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Have a blessed, safe and Happy Thanksgiving!!</span></span></div><div><br /></div>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-46597372076847868712008-11-20T08:51:00.003-05:002009-04-11T08:34:38.277-04:00Rebate Processor files for BankruptcyWhile shopping for someone one the web, I just ran across the following important information. If you are doing your shopping and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">plan on getting a rebate</span>, or have <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">recently filed for a rebate</span>, or have <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">just gotten a rebate check</span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">here is something you need to know about.</span> <div><br /></div><div>Continental Promotion Group (CPG) has filed for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">bankruptcy</span> and this could potentially result in not only you not getting your rebate, but <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">if you deposit a rebate check from them</span>, you <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">may get hit with a fee from your bank</span> if the check is returned for insufficient funds.</div><div><br /></div><div>To determine if you are affected you may be able to tell if you look at the address where you <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">mailed your rebate form. If it is: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">P.O. Box 52900 (or P.O. Box 52911)</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Phoenix, AZ 85072-2900</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Or</span> if you see a website for checking your rebate status is<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "> <a href="http://www.rebatestatus.com/" target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(68, 140, 203); font-size: 13px; "><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; ">www.rebatestatus.com,</b></a> you may be affected.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Some notable stores that may have sold products with rebates being processed by this company, along with additional details, may be found at the following link: </span><a href="http://blog.slickdeals.net/index.php/2008/11/14/major-rebate-processor-files-for-bankruptcy-a-number-of-recent-deals-with-rebates-may-be-affected"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Rebate Bankruptcy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">So while shopping for great deals that include rebates, remain aware and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"> </span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Happy Shopping!!!!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-84753965987953431772008-11-15T20:02:00.008-05:002008-11-15T21:15:05.360-05:00Let me help you with Christmas ShoppingOK, Christmas is just around the corner. Black Friday (big crazy shopping day for crazy bargain hunters) is less than two weeks away.<br /><br />So I have a deal for you. I'm not working, and spend most of my time on the computer anyway, so why not let me help you find a bargain for what you are shopping for. (The secret way to get this information to me is at the bottom of this blog).<br /><br />Here is the deal. Send me your list, be as specific as you can, and I will start hunting for you and send you the deals that I find. Don't worry, after Christmas shopping, I won't bug you, unless you ask me for help with birthdays, anniversary, special days like Valentines day.<br /><br />This won't cost you anything or obligate you to purchase anything. Now everything I find for you will probably be something to be ordered online. So, if you have a phobia about ordering online, this probably is not for you.<br /><br />Here are my qualifications: I love to hunt for bargains and try to get the best deal possible. It is just like trying to solve a puzzle to me. Two years ago, when we had bought a big screen TV, I wanted to get a new home theater system to go with it. I found the one I wanted at Best Buy, but it was $500+. I found the same system on Amazon for $325.00. Same exact model, free shipping and no taxes. Within 30 days Amazon put that model on sale for $249. Guess what, I got in touch with Amazon and got a refund for the difference. Now that was a bargain!!!<br /><br />Further, I monitor ads from Best Buy, Circuit City, Frys, and many special places on the internet that provide deals that include Walmart, Target, Macy's, Toys R Us, and even places that stock perfume (that I use frequently, well I don't use perfume, but I do buy it for my wife), etc.<br /><br />Even better for all of us, this year, companies are running scared and will be offering bargains like never before. So this is your chance to get some free help from a computer geek, that might be of value to you.<br /><br />I can find gifts for kids, wives, husbands, children, teens, or yourself (don't forget to treat yourself).<br /><br />Send your list to me. Be as specific as you can, or you can just say I want to know the hot toys for boys (or men), and I will see if I can help you out.<br /><br />I have set up a <em><strong>special email account</strong></em> just for this purpose. You will not be spammed, once I have done what I can for you, I won't keep even your email address, nor share it with anyone. This new email address that I have set up just for this service to you may be a bit goofy, but by posting it here, I may get spammed, so I ask you to do the following. I am typing it in a special way that hopefully it won't be picked up.<br /><br /><strong>The email address you should use to send me your list is similar to abc@gmail.com. However, in order to make this work, substitute "YourHotSale" for the characters "abc".</strong><br /><br />So the email address will be <span style="color:#cc0000;">YourHotSale</span> followed by the <span style="color:#ff0000;">@</span> sign, then <span style="color:#ff0000;">gmail.com, </span><span style="color:#330033;">all in the usual format for an email address. And yes, this is my email address, it does not belong to anyone else.</span><br /><br />If you don't understand this, or don't feel comfortable, then just send an email to my personal email address (which means that you must be a friend, or you would not know my email address).<br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Is this a great deal or what!!!!</span><br /></span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-68945027429133238822008-10-25T13:53:00.015-04:002009-04-11T08:34:38.278-04:00Start Planning Now for ChristmasCan you believe that it is the third week of October? How many of you have started your Christmas shopping? With the economy down, it may be a bit more difficult to part with hard earned cash.<br /><br />However, don't jump into using credit cards to provide gifts that you can't afford. First you need to make a list of those you plan to buy for. Next, begin thinking of ideas of what you might buy for them. If you need a list or a few ideas of places to start, go over to my new website, <a href="http://www.yourhotsale.com/" title="Click here to see my new website, YourHotSale.com !" target="_blank">www.YourHotSale.com</a>. It is still in the early stages, but if you click on the Gift Ideas button near the top, you will get some ideas and suggestions for him, her, Mom, Dad, Teens and pre-Teens.<br /><br />My intention with this new website is to provide the best deals that I can find on the web each day. Thus helping you through the Christmas season, then as my website expands, for additional gift giving days (birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.) or just shopping in general. So check it out.<br /><br />Now, due to the economy being so far down in the dumps, you can expect early sales before Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving), as well as after Thanksgiving.<br /><br />So, here are the tips for you.<br /><ol><li>Make out your list of names</li><li>List potential <a href="http://www.yourhotsale.com/" title="Click here to see gift ideas for him, her, Mom, Dad, Teens, Pre-Teens!" target="_blank">Gift Ideas</a></li><li>Estimate how much each will cost and plan your budget</li><li>Begin searching for deals online now and make notes about prices</li><li>When you find the price you are willing to pay, buy it, don't wait, popular items may sell out especially if it is a good price. You won't be the only one hunting for a bargain.</li></ol><br />If you follow these tips, you will be a frugal, smart shopper, and will avoid the post Christmas surprises when the credit card bills come in.<br /><br />And don't forget to check out my new website, <a href="http://www.yourhotsale.com/" title="Click here to see my new website, YourHotSale.com !" target="_blank">www.YourHotSale.com</a>. Oh I almost forgot to tell you, I also have some <a href="http://www.yourhotsale.com/TravelJournals.htm" title="Click here to read our travel journals!" target="_blank">Travel Journals</a> that I have posted to share with you. These are from our personal trips to Hawaii and Italy. I plan to add others including trips to Ireland, London, France, Prague, Switzerland, Munich, Greece and others from the Carribean. I am adding slowly to them but typing is slow. Any volunteers? LOL!!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Happy Shopping!!!</span></span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-15076942857256504162008-09-30T06:14:00.006-04:002009-04-11T08:34:38.278-04:00Finding a gas station with gasFor those of you in Nashville, Atlanta, North Carolina, here are my tips for finding gas stations with gas.<br /><br />As I have written before, I use <a href="http://www.atlantagasprices.com/">AtlantaGasPrices.com</a>. This site also has sister sites such as <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.nashvillegasprices.com">http://www.nashvillegasprices.com</a> or <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.northcarolinagasprices.com">http://www.northcarolinagasprices.com</a>. If you scroll down and look on the left side, you will see a heading 'Search For Gas Prices'. In this section, you <span style="font-weight: bold;">can search for gas in specific communities</span> within that site. Or just below that section, you can select a different state.<br /><br />By default the site searches for gas reported in the last 24 - 48 hours. Which is too late in many cases. So I locate the dropdown with the 'Price in the Last xx hours', and select 4 hours. This is located in the 'Search For Gas Prices' section on the left hand side. Selecting 4 hours gives me the best chance to find gas.<br /><br />If your morning commute is passing through several communities on your way to work, you can scroll through the list of areas and hold down your control key (CTRL) and click on those communities where it is convenient for you to get gas. Then click go and you get your list. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Print it</span> out and take it with you, in case your first choice has run out by the time you get there.<br /><br />You may also find it best to do this really early in the morning, (about 5 AM) to try to get to the station before the lines are too long, or they run out of gas.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Happy Gas Hunting and may the lines be short!!!!!</span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-49595687630303588582008-08-17T21:25:00.006-04:002009-04-11T08:34:38.279-04:00Run Your Car on HHO???Recently someone asked me if I had heard about cars running on HHO. I had no idea of what HHO might be, so they explained. This is supposed to be an inexpensive system where your car burns water along with gasoline and when added to your car improves your gas mileage by 40% or so. Now I'm thinking HHO sounds suspiciously like H2O. So I began Googling HHO.<br /><br />This is all about running your car on Hydrogen and gas mixture to improve efficiency.<br /><br />I saw one video from WYFF in Greenville, SC of someone who is supposed to be the Chief of Police of a small town Honea Path, SC. He was saying that it had improved the gas mileage by 6 to 8 miles per gallon on their vehicles!!<br /><br />I saw another from a TV station in Miami that supposedly tried it on their truck and it went from 9 miles per gallon to 24 miles per gallon!!!<br /><br />This is kind of how it works. You have a container with water inside your engine compartment that has wires running to is. The wires carry electricity from the battery (thru the switch, so it won't run your battery down). The wires, one positive and one negative, create "charged water" Also coming out of this container is a hose that supplies the resulting gas to your carburetor and manifold. I assume what is coming out is a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gas. The claim is that your engine does not presently burn all of the gasoline, but by adding this gas, you burn all of it and gain more efficiency.<br /><br />I saw where these kits range from $49 to $200 to install them yourself, or up to $1200 if you have a mechanic install it for you. You can either google to read some of this, or probably click on some of the ads on the right and you will get to see some of the videos and information I am talking about.<br /><br />All of this brings up questions in my mind. If this is so good, why haven't we heard about this from the various environmentalist groups, or Congress, or especially GM, Ford, and Chrysler? Will it damage your car, causing your engine to rust inside, damage the catalytic converter, will the water freeze in the winter OR is this a scam to take your hard earned $ away from you?<br /><br />So I pose this question to each of you, have you tried this and can say it improves gas mileage and can you say how much the improvement was? Or do you know someone that has tried this?<br /><br />Some of the advertisements for this fix remind me of a used car salesman or the ginzu knife deal on late night TV. But there are some interesting things being reported by some TV stations, but the end result is they seem to go hmmm, then never say whether they absolutely believe it or not.<br /><br />At this time of high gas prices, we definitely need solutions, but at the same time we need the media, the Federal Trade Commission, and others to protect us from a potential scam, or let us know that it really works.<br /><br />What are your thoughts or experiences with this?<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have a wonderful day!!</span></span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-1600511140323070862008-08-12T16:36:00.004-04:002009-04-11T08:34:38.279-04:00Be Responsible With Your Credit Card UseWhile reading some other blogs on credit card use, I wanted to agree with many of the comments that I read. Some said don't use credit cards, they are evil. While I won't go that far, you do need to be fiscally responsible. Others related stories of people in serious credit card debt.<br /><br />Let me be clear about the use of credit cards. If you cannot pay off the balance in full each month, do not attempt to get credit cards that provide you a discount. The finance charges alone will eat up any savings you might get.<br /><br />I would suggest that if you find you cannot pay the credit card in full each and every month, you need to cut that card up. Get rid of it. Start trying to pay off those balances with a vengeance.<br /><br />20% or more interest a month is highway robbery. If someone said they were cutting your pay by 20%, you would be really upset. This is the same thing, they are just pulling the money out of your pocket in a different manner.<br /><br />If you pay off your credit card bills each month, good for you!! You probably don't need to read the rest of this. However, if you do not pay off your credit card bills each month, you absolutely need to read this.<br /><br />Let's talk about the checks that come with your credit card statement. Shred them. Don't even be tempted to use one. I was looking at some that I got today, and they advertise 0% interest (for 5 months), for the first check, and 3.99% interest for an additional check, all in big bold type. In the fine type is where they put all of the gotcha's. There is an immediate transaction fee of 3% when you use any one of the checks.<br /><br />They use such advertising slogans as "Save by transferring balances from higher APR accounts", "Write a check to yourself", "Go on a well deserved vacation", ....<br /><br />So let's say you are going to Florida for vacation, and need $2,000 for the hotel, gas and meals. But you don't have the money. Is it a good idea to use one of these checks. You write the check, immediately the credit card company assess you 3%, or $60. You and your family enjoy yourself, then come back. The bill shows up, you don't have $2060, so you pay $50, with the intention of paying off the card before the 5 months are up.<br /><br />The 5th month rolls around, and you don't have the $1860 to pay the bill, because you didn't set aside money to pay it off. Now they start hitting you with interest. You continue to pay the $50 a month. Guess when the balance is paid off? Assuming 20% interest rate, it is 5 years later!!! And that is also assuming you don't get the silly urge to do the same thing again next year! Plus, during that time you paid in $1,047 in interest. That vacation cost you right at $3,050.<br /><br />NO, NO, NO. These are not good ideas, nor are they financially responsible. If you need to borrow money (which I don't recommend), go to your local credit union for a loan. If they won't give you one at a decent rate, then most likely they are trying to tell you something.<br /><br />Even though I have written about discounts on air travel and hotels, vacations are no excuse to borrow money. If you cannot afford a vacation, then plan a "staycation", where you search on the internet for fun things to do near your home.<br /><br />Go to some public park and have a picnic. Or find a nearby lake. Sit back, relax, and you will be rewarded by avoiding that $2,060 or much worse bill at the end of the month.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Use your money wisely, don't give it to the credit card companies.</span></span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-50574449061467574712008-08-05T16:14:00.007-04:002009-04-11T08:34:38.280-04:00How we are saving more than 10% a month on gas for the car<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHzvuUN6eg6zLNIvWGTluoIW5Q71dXoYybztV7OHy2OOG1Ut07_AbsjU2H-Gdcq0hI95850qd9Xiz65M0q_FPyanJXFck5xrJjED_7xOdi2omQUZCvZVVjkMHBePSmQpoolhW6L6yR48/s1600-h/HorseAndBuggie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHzvuUN6eg6zLNIvWGTluoIW5Q71dXoYybztV7OHy2OOG1Ut07_AbsjU2H-Gdcq0hI95850qd9Xiz65M0q_FPyanJXFck5xrJjED_7xOdi2omQUZCvZVVjkMHBePSmQpoolhW6L6yR48/s200/HorseAndBuggie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231134722567800610" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">OK, I have to confess. I don’t have an economical car. I drive a Ford Explorer, which is paid for, and I don’t really want to plunk down more money for a car, while this one is still in good running condition. Although, with gas prices being what they are, it is becoming more and more tempting. And no, that is not my Explorer in the picture. Wonder how many miles they get to a bale of hay?<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Before gas got so high, I was a bit of an aggressive driver. I drove too fast, and took off too quick at red lights.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>My Explorer does have a nice feature on it that will show me the Miles Per Gallon. I can reset it at anytime and it starts over immediately telling me how my gas mileage is. So I tried out several driving habits each time resetting the electronic gizmo to see what I would learn. </p> <table><tbody><tr><td>Action</td><td>Miles Per Gallon</td><br /></tr><tr><td>Accelerating quickly from a stop</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Accelerating moderately from Stop</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Accelerating while going uphill</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Holding my speed going uphill</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>Accelerating going down hill</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>Not accelerating going down hill</td><td>28 – 35 depending how steep the hill<br /></td></tr><tr><td>Driving at 75 MPH</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>Driving at 65 MPH<br /></td><td>21</td></tr><tr><td>Driving at 60 MPH</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>Using Cruise at 60 MPH</td><td>21.5</td></tr><tr><td>Idling at the ATM or Fast-Food Drive thru</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Turning off engine at ATM or Fast-Food drive thru<br /></td><td>---not burning gas, save it for later</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>So these are the things that I learned. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">1)<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Accelerating quickly anytime is not good, unless you are trying to get out of the way of a train. Using a more calm method of starting is much better.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">2)<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Riding your brakes going down hill hurts your efficiency, unless you are speeding or about to rear end someone.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">3)<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Driving along about 60 seemed to give me the best over all gas mileage. If you have a lead foot, try the cruise control if you have it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">4)<span style=""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Ever been in a slow drive thru? You know the person in front seems to have ordered food for all 18 of their relatives. If you have to wait more than a minute, turn off the engine (put it in park). When you are not moving, your MPG is 0. But with the engine off, you have that gas to use after you leave the drive thru.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Out of all of these, the biggest lesson to learn is when you accelerate like you are trying to win the Indy 500, you are not spending your gas wisely. For me, gaining 2 miles per gallon is like getting 10% off at the pump. Since we spend about $400 a month on gas, for us, that comes out to about $40 a month.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Granted, this was not a scientific study, but I can tell the difference when and how often I fill up.<br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Other lessons we have learned, is to group our trips. Instead of going out multiple times to the grocery store, or the post office, we try to combine a trip with any other errands that we have to do. For us, saving 2 trips a week, will save us 2 gallons of gas. That’s 104 gallons a year, or about $400 a year. However, I don't keep count of these and didn't include them in the $40 in the title of this blog.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The next tip is to use the websites like AtlantaGasPrices.com, or GeorgiaGasPrices.com. You can enter them in the Google search window at the bottom of this blog and find the site easily. Once there, then scroll down and look for “Tell a Friend” on the left hand side. Just above that, you can select your state or metro area for gas prices in your area. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Here is how I use this. When I am getting low on gas, and know that I am going to have to run an errand, I check this website to see who has the cheapest gas near my route. I don’t drive 5 miles out of my way to get gas. I might drive 1 if it is a really good deal and cost effective for me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>This website depends on drivers like you and me to report gas prices. The prices are usually retained on the website for about 36 hours. Also, if you live in a large metro area, it is interesting to see that some areas always seem to have less expensive gas, while others seem to always have the highest prices. Some times one right around the corner will have much cheaper gas, but if you didn't drive by, or know about this website, you would never know.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Using this technique alone usually saves me $.10 to $.20 per gallon. I have it book marked so it only takes me a minute. Also, I have no allegiance to any gas brand, neither does my car. On top of that I use a credit card that will give me either 3% or 5% back on my gas purchase. On the Chase BP card that I have, we let it build up and for a recent trip, I requested the $125 check and got it in two weeks and we used it to help buy gas for our long trip. See my blog “<a href="http://mrterrycreditcardhelp.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-we-saved-gas-money-on-our-vacation.html">How We Saved Gas Money on our Vacation.</a>”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let me know if you have any favorite tips that will save gas dollars, just post your comment below.</p><p class="MsoNormal">There is some information at this site, <a href="http://www.savemoney.com/transportation/gasoline/how-to-save-money-at-the-gas-pump.html">Save Gas Articles</a>, so check it out.</p><br /><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 255, 51);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy Motoring!!</span></p>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-21601031523136783942008-08-03T21:19:00.006-04:002009-04-11T08:34:38.280-04:00Discounts on Travel - Part 2 - Hotels<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.travelpn.com.edgesuite.net/tvly/photos/hotel/013111C.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://i.travelpn.com.edgesuite.net/tvly/photos/hotel/013111C.jpg" alt="Very Nice Hotel Room" border="0" /></a><br />Finding the right hotel for your vacation or business travel can be tricky. Many times we want all of the features for the best price we can get.<br /><br />Here is a tip from my "Lessons Learned". Don't call the 800 number if you have specific requests such as a beach front room. Look up their local number and call the hotel direct to see if they can meet your specific request. We had an experience where we called the 800 number, was promised a beach front room, but they didn't have any available when we checked in. Better to call direct and note the name of the person you spoke with.<br /><br />Now for hotel bargains. There are many websites such as hotel.com and others that can give you room rates for about any hotel in any location. And that is a good place to start. Usually you can choose what amenities you want, price range, and even see some photos of the hotel. Also, tripadvisor.com will give you the opinions of others about particular hotels. I suggest you read those as well before you book.<br /><br />Both AARP (if you are over 50) or AAA (if you are a member), can get you discounts at a hotel. When calling for a reservation, ask them " What is your best rate?" After they have given you this quote, you then ask about AARP or AAA rates to see if you can save a little be more. If you are a member of the Military or work for the government, those rates are usually even better.<br /><br />If you travel a lot, such as on business, you should join the membership of the hotels you tend to stay. Marriott has a good program, as does Hilton, Holiday Inn, Best Western, etc. If you don't belong, ask them for a form to sign up. Unlike airline frequent flyer miles, hotel miles seem to work much better. The rewards are not as good as they used to be, but still they are worth it and can add up over time. You can use their points for free nights, or room upgrades.<br /><br />You can also search the internet with the name of the hotel and the words "promotion" or "discount". Sometimes you will find they have a summer special that does not show up else where. Try this in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">black Google Search</span> box at the bottom of this blog, just above the video. The search results will at the bottom of the blog. For example try this one in the search box(include the quotes):<br /><br />discount "Legacy By The Sea" Panama City Beach, Fl<br /><br /><br />Now if you don't have children and there are only one or two of you traveling, then PriceLine is one to try. Priceline will quote you a price, but you can bid on hotel rooms and get them even lower. You have to remember this is an auction, and once you bid, if it is accepted you have bought the room.<br /><br />There are some drawbacks with PriceLine. They only work with hotels. All rooms are only for 1 or two people. The drawback is you don't choose the hotel, you choose the area, and the * ranking. So always ask for a 4 or 5 star hotel to be assured of a nice one.<br /><br />If you want to try PriceLine, I strongly suggest that you go to Bidding For Travel first.<br /><br />Bidding For Travel will let you see how much other people have gotten rooms for at various hotels. However, they have a technique that you need to follow, and are most helpful getting you started. But you must follow the rules in order to be successful.<br /><br />I just looked on Bidding for Travel and saw where one bidder got a room at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in New York City for $150. Or the Hyatt Regency in Boston for $100. For these hotels, those are great prices.<br /><br />Similarly, Hotwire allows you to purchase rooms. But they show the prices, you don't bid. However you still don't know the name of the hotel until you agree to accept it. However, this site does use maps and shows smaller neighborhoods, so you can get right in the location you wish.<br /><br />If you are not into bidding and taking your chances, then try Kayak. This site searches a ton of sites looking for your hotel room, including the hotel's own website, for any internet specials they may have.<br /><br />For any of the sites, simply type the name listed below in the black Google Search box below just above the video. The search results will appear underneath that black box.<br /><br />Hotels.com, TripAdvisor, Bidding For Travel, PriceLine, Hotwire, Kayak<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" ><br />Where ever you go, may you have a pleasant stay and get a great deal!!</span><br /><a href="http://www.biddingfortravel.com/"></a>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-52448731447510637762008-08-02T05:18:00.004-04:002009-04-11T08:34:38.281-04:00Discounts on Travel - Part 1 - Air TravelAhhh!! Vacation, travel, time to get away. Exploring new places, enjoying time with your loved ones. Disney for the kids or grandkids; New York for shopping and Broadway shows; Washington DC for learning about our history; Colorado for skiing; Florida for some beach time. Do these stir memories for you, or inspire some wistful thinking?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG1K_2NENT646hv1eOcZWgGq_LoJfrffx9l64OUXOB9iSzfAokzwDASRjLar45A-RzEkdPA7cLDMlpwLgPmthq1_kAYshheSbbegt2n8HNzI3Q4Ucy8fZmWNOQi2DR1MQhxMGBz3BB48/s1600-h/MarcoIslandFla.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG1K_2NENT646hv1eOcZWgGq_LoJfrffx9l64OUXOB9iSzfAokzwDASRjLar45A-RzEkdPA7cLDMlpwLgPmthq1_kAYshheSbbegt2n8HNzI3Q4Ucy8fZmWNOQi2DR1MQhxMGBz3BB48/s200/MarcoIslandFla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230017263093297634" border="0" /></a><br />I don't know about you, but we love to travel. Better yet, we love to travel when we can get a bargain.<br /><br />There are usually two types of travelers. I call them the prince/princesses and the wolves. Those who want everything handled for them are the prince/princesses. Wolves are those who search and hunt for the best prices with the skill and passion of a wolf hunting for his next meal.<br /><br />There is nothing wrong with being either type. And at times we all have a need to be treated like a prince or princess. For these moments, my advice is short and simple. Have a good trust worthy travel agent. One who has been places, and can not only get you a fair price for your travel, but at the same time can tell you things to do there that you absolutely do not want to miss. One who knows not only destinations, but passport rules, visa rules, latest baggage charges, etc. Also, if you have problems, the agent is willing to go to bat for you to get the situation rectified. To me, that is the real value of a good travel agent. My wife is a very good travel agent and does all of these things for her clients.<br /><br />Now for the wolves, here are your tips. I can hear your lips smacking now.<br /><br />There are a multitude of websites offering the best prices on air travel, hotels, cruises, and packages (includes air, hotel, transfers or rental cars). You also see advertisements in newspapers. You want to make sure that when you compare prices, you compare apples to apples. Most advertisements show only the base price. They don't include the taxes, passenger facility charges, fuel surcharges, baggage charges, etc. These fees can add 20% - 30% to the cost of your ticket. So be careful when you compare prices, and don't get lured in with the appearance of a low price in an ad, these are usually starting prices and without the fees.<br /><br />If you truly just want to go somewhere, anywhere, and want the best deal you can get, then you have to be very flexible. Mainly, you see who has airfare sales going on, choose a place, then figure out what you will do when you get there. This is spur of the moment travel and can provide you with many travel experiences. However, it does require you to do your research on your chosen destination. Otherwise, you may come back with the opinion "That was just another boring, dirty, major city". You might miss that museum, or nearby national park, nice restaurant, or wonderful store with great bargains. So do your homework. <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/">www.tripadvisor.com</a> is a great place to search for information opinions posted by fellow travelers.<br /><br />Speaking of spur of the moment bargains, Clark Howard is a local radio celebrity (WSB 750) here in Atlanta. His show is syndicated and may be on one of your local stations or on the internet. On Friday afternoons at 3:00 PM, his show is spent entirely on travel bargains, great deals. We have made many spur of the moment purchases of airfare based on information on his show, then figured out what we would do when we got there. A friend of mine once got a $188 round trip airfare to Hawaii that he heard about on Clark's show!!! Now that is a bargain and a whale of a discount!!!<br /><br />However, if you have specific plans involving particular dates, then you need to begin checking airfares early and check them often to understand what the price ranges are. You monitor the prices, or have websites monitor the prices for you and notify you by email when the price drops. Just remember that these prices won't reflect all of the additional fees, just expect the final price to be about 20% or so higher.<br /><br />When buying airfare, it is always a guessing game, and you are not always sure when to pull the trigger and make the purchase. Next week the airfare could go lower, but it could also go higher. If for example, you are planning a trip to London in early spring, and you see airfares are currently running $1000 each, then you know it is a good deal if you see airfare for $300. Beware, some destinations have seasonal variances. Europe is usually cheaper in the winter than in the summer. Las Vegas is higher on the weekends than on weekdays.<br /><br />For the best prices on airfares, I use a couple of sources. I check <a href="http://www.travelocity.com/">Travelocity.com</a> just to see what the price range is going to be. I like this site, because I can choose a flight, then I can see which days have seats available. I will take it up to the point of booking, then cancel out. I do this so I can see which days that bargain airfares are available, and what it will actually cost me. Also, if you have favorite cities to go to, you can set up an alert to send you an email if the price fells below a certain $ amount.<br /><br />There are some downsides to using Travelocity. We used them once, and had to make a change to a ticket. Travelocity made the change, but charged us more than if we had booked it through the airline. Plus we had to go to the airport to get the new ticket. Plus, I spent about 40 minutes on the phone with them, it was a hassle. Now I just use them for information.<br /><br />For domestic travel, another site is <a href="http://www.kayak.com/">www.kayak.com</a>. This site will check 140 different sites for you, including internet only specials. It searches places that Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbis do not pull from. Best of all this site is free, and you can click to make your purchase directly from the airline or agency.<br /><br />For international travel, a good site to use is <a href="http://www.mobissimo.com/">www.mobissimo.com</a>, which is similar to Kayak.<br /><br />There are also sites such as Hotwire and PriceLine, however, I have only used them for hotel purchases and have not tried them out for airfare purchases. More about these two sites in my next blog on hotel discounts.<br /><br />For my last tip, the best airfares are usually midweek, not on weekends. Everyone wants to travel on Friday and come home on Sunday to get a long weekend. However, they are competing with business travelers who want to get home of Fridays, and need to leave for work on Sundays. Tuesdays seems to be the best day to get the cheapest airfare. Around holidays, you need to book early. Although, you may find some bargains on the morning of the holiday such as the actual day of Thanksgiving or Christmas. However, most airfares are going to be at a peak at these times.<br /><br />Beware of spring break, especially if you are going near a beach. Discount seats sell out early. So plan ahead, don't wait until the week or even the month before.<br /><br />I hope you have found this helpful. Let me know what you think about what I have posted above, or share your suggestions. We all learn from each other.<br /><br />My next blog will be about finding really good deals at hotels.<br /><br />Also, if you enjoy this blog, feel free to share the link with your friends and family. Here is the link for you to copy and paste into your email: <a href="http://mrterrycreditcardhelp.blogspot.com/">mrterrycreditcardhelp.blogspot.com</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">May you find the deal of the day and have a wonderful vacation!!</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mr Terry</span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144931695794269018.post-32535542174237602312008-07-31T11:38:00.000-04:002009-04-11T08:34:38.281-04:00Buying Books at a DiscountDo you enjoy reading? It can be for pleasure, learning, research, or just something that catches your eye.<br /><br />Do you buy your books at the local bookstore and pay the full retail price? That's good to support the local merchants, but there are times that I like to keep some of that money in my pocket. Well, let's say not just sometime, but for me that is all the time...<br /><br />As for local book stores, I enjoy going to Barnes and Noble or Borders. They have everything under the sun and I wish I had the knowledge packed in all of those books.<br /><br />If you frequent Barnes and Noble, you probably know that you can buy a membership card for $25 which gives you 40% off their best sellers, 20% off other hardcover books and 10% off most everything else. Now combine that with a coupon and you can save some money on books.<br /><br />Where do I get coupons? If you take their membership, they will send you coupons from time to time. Sometimes for an additional 15% or 20% off one item. Another source is to google "Barnes and Noble Coupon Code". I have used codes from CouponAlbum.com when I am ordering online. You enter the coupon code near the end of finishing your order for an additional discount. If one code doesn't work, try another from their list.<br /><br />Let's use an example and do some shopping. The number one book on the NY Times Fiction bestseller list is Nora Robert's "Tribute". List price is $26.95, not including taxes. If I were to order this book at the list price, it would be about $28.57 including taxes.<br /><br />On Abebooks.com, it is $19.04 including shipping. On Barnes and Noble it is about $23.98 including shipping and taxes for members, or $25.36 for non-members including shipping and taxes. Shipping is about $3.99 to my house, and taxes are 6%, your situation may be different. I find a coupon for 15% off and apply it and my book total is now $18.79 for a member or $20.98 for a non member. So Barnes and Noble is the best deal if you are a member, or Abebooks.com is the best one if you are not. Not a great deal, but better than paying full price plus taxes!<br /><br />There is one more place that I would like to mention for used books and new as well. The website used.addall.com searches many book dealer sites including Abebooks.com. Many times I see a book that I am interested in which is selling for the full retail price and I find it on this site at more than 50% off. For example, I saw a technical book that I was interested in and it was $26.95 plus tax. But using used.addall.com, I found a used copy for $10 which included shipping. I didn't mind that someone else had read it, or made notes in it. I might find them helpful.<br /><br />I was pleased with my purchase!<br /><br />For text books, there are many sources. Such as ecampus.com, campusbooks.com, half.ebay.com and many others. Just google "used textbooks", and you will get a whole list.<br /><br />In fact, if you would like me to help you find the best price on a book, post a comment and I'll see what I can do. If I get a lot of suggestions, I will pick a few and go through the techniques that I used to find the lowest price.<br /><br />Plus, do you have favorite sites for books that you visit? Or do you have certain bookstores that you enjoy visiting? Let us know, we would love to hear from you.<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Happy Book Hunting!!!</span></span>MrTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182973114663902930noreply@blogger.com0