Issue Date: September 11, 2005
Fiscally fit tips for selecting a gym
Average cost is the monthly gym fee divided by the number of workouts.
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I stopped working out at a health club when we moved to the suburbs a few years ago. My excuses: inconvenient locations or class times, and expensive membership dues. In reality, several local clubs offer loads of great classes in the evening and on weekends, and costs are fairly reasonable. If, like me, you're getting on track this fall, use these tips to find a club that's not too heavy for your wallet.
Try before you buy. Before signing a contract, be sure the gym offers what you want. List your needs (personal training, child care, kickboxing classes, etc.), and ask for a day pass or trial membership.
Don't get stuck in a long-term deal. Avoid sales pitches offering a "discounted rate" for joining for a year or two. Don't sign up for a "lifetime membership" (that's the life of the club, not your lifetime), which are illegal in some states. Best bet: Use a month-to-month contract.
Be careful using automatic debit programs to pay fees. If you sign a 12- or 24-month contract, it may be difficult to cancel the automatic debit program if you decide you want to get out of the health club contract. And read the fine print: Often, you must provide written notice 30 days before the end of the contract, or else you're automatically re-enrolled.
Finally, find out how to get out of the contract. Be sure you can cancel without paying a penalty. Ask whether the club will let you sell your remaining membership to another member if you move or decide to leave the gym for any reason.
Sharon Epperson is CNBC's personal finance correspondent.
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Learn infant CPR at home in an hour
Goodbye, Botox and Tupperware parties. Hello, CPR shindigs. Starting this month, you can learn the life-saving technique of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the comfort of your home with a new nationwide program from the American Red Cross.
Invite Grandma, neighbors and the babysitter.
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The idea is to "bring it home, keep it fun, and learn something," says Red Cross spokeswoman Stacey Grissom. "American Red Cross has the goal that one person in each house will know CPR."
Moms and dads can invite friends, grandparents and babysitters over for the one-hour class of instruction on basic CPR for babies and emergency protocols when dealing with a choking infant. The course is not a certification program, but it provides a good overview on baby safety and will include hands-on practice. The cost varies depending on location but will start at about $30 per person.
For more information or to schedule a class, visit redcross.org or contact one of the nearly 900 Red Cross chapters.
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Wanna chase a storm?
If you're fascinated by tornadoes, you're not alone. When the summer storm season heats up, companies such as Silver Lining Tours, Tempest Tours and Cloud 9 Tours spring into action. They're called storm chasers, and they hit the road with a vanload of travelers who want to get close to the vortex. These tours routinely sell out six months in advance, so now's the time to book for next year.
Tempest Tours, which chases storm systems in Tornado Alley (from Texas to the Dakotas), has six- to 10-day tours that run from $1,900 to $2,700 per person. That includes the van rides, plus motel fees and guides. You're responsible for meals and getting to the base city, usually Denver or Oklahoma City. Companies like Silver Lining even offer on-call storm chasing, contacting you via e-mail about 48 hours in advance. But remember, there are no guarantees that you'll see a tornado.
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Zinc helps kids think
More zinc may help your child learn faster, says James G. Penland, a researcher at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center.
In a new study, he gave 209 seventh-graders a morning glass of fruit juice -- either plain or fortified with 10 or 20 milligrams of zinc. Kids who drank the 20mg-zinc juice daily for three months did best on a battery of computer tests of mental and motor skills. Compared with students who had plain juice, the 20mg-zinc drinkers improved twice as much on a visual memory test and three times as much on word recognition.
The bottom line: The optimal learning dose in this study was 20mg, more than previously thought to be needed.
Scientific sources for this item
Folic acid and cognitive decline
Jane Durga, presented at an Alzheimer's prevention conference in D.C. June 21, 2005
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How to inspect a house
Congratulations: You've found the home of your dreams, and you can't wait to move in. But before signing a sales contract, be sure you're falling in love for the right reasons.
Look for sturdiness and good structure.
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TO BEGIN, STAND IN THE YARD. Does the exterior stand straight and tall, with a strong horizontal line along the roof? Look closely at where the house meets the foundation on all sides; any signs of rot could signal the need for a lot of structural work.
Next, check whether the driveway, sidewalks and landscaping pitch away from the house, to provide proper drainage of rainwater.
NOW ENTER THE HOUSE. The front door handle should be secure. The door should close with a sturdy thud. The staircase banister should not wiggle when you grab ahold.
Test all the kitchen cabinets (they should open and close squarely) and drawers (they should glide smoothly). Turn on faucets to check water pressure, and make sure fixtures are in tiptop shape.
In the bathrooms, the tiled walls in shower or tub areas shouldn't move when touched. If they do, any rot behind the walls could cost you big-time.
Finally, the basement should smell fresh, not mildewy.
You still should hire a professional inspector when you find a place that passes your initial test, but you'll have earned the confidence that comes from knowing your decision is guided by practicality. And that produces happy homeowners.
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