Issue Date: May 28, 2006
How to hire a lawn-care company
When my husband and I bought our first home, we knew our limitations as far as the yard was concerned. So we hired the same lawn-care company that the previous owner used. The $90 monthly "maintenance" fee seemed reasonable, but it only covered mowing. We didn't realize other services (like fertilizing, liming and weeding) were a la carte until the $1,177 November bill arrived.
Obtaining estimates from several companies and determining which services are required and their costs can prevent surprises, says John Gibson, of PLANET, a trade group of more than 4,400 lawn-care companies. But, he says, "it's not all about price. One company's fertilization may not be another's. Ask how many applications are included." Gibson and other experts suggest choosing a firm that:
Knows the "turf." It should have the technical skill to deal with turfgrass, plants, and insect and disease problems. And it should follow environmental laws and have the materials and equipment to do quality work.
Puts the work order in writing. Ask for a detailed listing of services and costs and a written estimate (including length of service).
Is covered. Check that it meets all state licensing requirements and has workers' compensation insurance in case an employee is injured on your property. Ask if the company is a member of its state or national lawn-care or landscaping association.
To find a lawn-care professional, call PLANET at 800-395-2522 or go to landcarenetwork.org.
Sharon Epperson is CNBC's personal finance correspondent.
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Dieting starts in the supermarket
When you are hungry, do you have healthy items on hand to whip up a meal, or do you go for fattening fast food instead?
Registered dietitian Janis Jibrin's just-out book, "The Supermarket Diet" (Hearst, $19.95), helps you escape the junk-food trap by telling how to stock your pantry with good food and cook it in a jiffy. I endorse the list of "svelte staples," below, that Jibrin says you always should keep in the kitchen.
This book may help you to lose weight. But even if it doesn't, it still has excellent recipes and tips on eating healthy.
Svelte staples for your shopping list
 frozen blueberries
frozen broccoli
skinless, boneless chicken breast
canned beans
whole-wheat bread
whole-wheat couscous
olive oil
low-sodium, canned tomatoes
canned light tuna in water
oatmeal
walnuts
dried cranberries
fat-free or 1% milk
dried plums (prunes)
jarred or minced garlic
long-lasting fresh fruit and vegetables, like carrots, onions, root vegetables, grapefruit and oranges
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Ahhh, a $39 massage
Massage is joining the gym circuit. Arizona's Massage Envy wants to open up membership-based clinics nationwide; 185 are to be open by next year.
How it works: For $49 to $59, members get a monthly massage; additional massages cost $39. Walk-ins are welcome. "It's all about convenience and affordability," says CEO John Leonesio.
Texas-based Massage Heights has nearly a dozen similar outlets in and around San Antonio and Austin. And the Lamar in Scottsdale, Ariz., offers massage-a-month packages; comparable offerings, with volume discounts, also are attracting repeat business at hotels and other spas.
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All you need to create your own podcast
So, you have something urgent to say about Iraq or maybe Paris Hilton's dog? Try making a podcast, a great tool for budding broadcasters.
You start with an Internet connection, a microphone (most newer computers have them built in) and a room with good acoustics. Then, using any one of the free audio production programs available online (go to download.com for Mac and PC options), you can record your program and save it as an MP3 file.
Here's where it gets a little tricky. A wannabe podcaster must have his own website and what is known as a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed for other computers to read his podcast. Of course, these days, the Internet is full of free programs for making personal websites (angelfire.lycos.com is a good one) and tutorials on creating an RSS feed (check out webreference.com).
As far as the podcast content goes, experts recommend organizing it into sections, perhaps starting with an introductory theme song.
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