Issue Date: May 27, 2007
TechSmart Joshua Goldman
Tricking out your gadget is easy
Get cool cover designs for your cell, Xbox 360 or TiVo remote.
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With more people showing off their gadgets in public, it makes sense that you would want yours to stand out in a crowd. Skinit's vinyl skins for devices like cellphones, MP3 players and laptops let you quickly customize them to match your style.
On the company's website (skinit.com), you can select the make and model of your device and choose a design -- everything from animal prints to professional and collegiate sports team logos to Disney and Looney Tunes cartoon characters. You can even have a photo that you've taken turned into a custom skin. The skins, which add a little extra scratch protection, are cut to fit perfectly around every curve and crevice of the device.
Don't worry about the skins damaging your devices, either. The adhesive that's used leaves little or no residue and is not permanent, so you can easily peel the skins off.
The skin prices depend on the design and device, but they start as low as $12.45 each.
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College savings -- and taxes
Trying to figure out how to invest for your child's college education? Several options offer significant tax advantages over taxable accounts. This week we look at 529 plans and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs); next week, we examine custodial accounts.
Invest in a 529 plan. Pros: You won't pay tax on investment gains if the money is used for college expenses (tuition, room, board, books), and withdrawals are tax-free. There are no income limits, and 529s can be set up by anyone (grandparents, family friends). You can sock away $200,000 or more per child over your lifetime and up to $60,000 per individual (or $120,000 per couple) in one year without triggering a gift tax, as long as you don't make another contribution for five years. Plus, there are no age limits for the beneficiary of a 529 plan. Cons: You don't get to choose individual stocks or mutual funds to invest in; the individual state plans decide which investment options are offered.
Consider an ESA to supplement your 529 plan. Pros: An ESA, which also is called a Coverdell, can be used for primary and secondary school expenses in addition to college costs (at least through 2010). Income and gains grow tax free. Cons: There are income limits, there are age limits on the beneficiary, and contributions are capped at $2,000 a year, so it's difficult to save enough, given rising college costs.
CNBC correspondent Sharon Epperson is the author of a new finance book for couples, "The Big Payoff" (Collins, $22.95).
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Unmake the family bed
A dirty little secret is hiding in many American bedrooms. Instead of nestling "snug in their beds," kids are taking over Mom and Dad's, which could explain why three out of four parents are unhappy with their child's sleeping habits, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Of course, many people swear by the "family bed," but if you're not one of them, then here's how to get your child to stay put at night:
Hit the mat. Set up a mattress for your child at the foot of your bed, then move it a little closer to the door and eventually into her room. Alternatively, sleep on her floor and gradually move on down the hall.
Accentuate the positive. Don't reward crying: Tell your child that as long as he's quiet, you will check in every 10 minutes. Be sure to keep your promise.
Think empowerment. Changing sleep habits takes time (up to four weeks) and emotional muscle. If you tell yourself you're punishing your child, you'll never succeed. Realize you're teaching him the invaluable lesson of soothing himself to sleep.
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Rice that's nutty and nice
Wild rice, like brown rice, is whole-grain and packed with fiber. This dish is an excellent substitute for bread stuffing and white rice.
Make-Ahead Wild Rice Pilaf
1 Tb. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 1/2 cups non-fat, reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup uncooked wild rice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries
In a medium saucepan, heat oil. Sauté onion and celery until soft, about 5 minutes. Add broth and rice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 50 to 60 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid absorbed. Add walnuts and cranberries. Toss; serve warm. Can be made ahead and reheated in microwave.
Serves 8
Per serving: 169 calories, 5g protein, 24g carbohydrates, 7g fat (0.7g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 3g fiber, 129mg sodium
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Leave your job behind when you're on vacation
Thanks to cellphones, smartphones and wireless Internet, it's more difficult than ever to get away from the office. According to Expedia.com's 2007 Vacation Deprivation survey, 23% of workers checked their voice mail or e-mail while on vacation. The survey also found that 35% of Americans did not take all of their vacation days.
Here are some tips on how to leave the job behind:
Prepare your workplace for your absence. "Two weeks prior to your vacation, let your clients, internal team and boss know you're taking time off, and let them know you're going to disconnect," says Karla Robertson, a certified business coach and president of Shifting Gears in Howell, N.J.
Leave your BlackBerry and laptop in the office, and don't check voice mail, suggests Laura Stack, a time-management trainer and author of Leave the Office Earlier. "It's becoming more acceptable to leave extended-absence greetings or automated e-mail responses," she says.
Consider building in an extra day back home instead of immediately returning to work, suggests Jeff Davidson, author of "Breathing Space: Living & Working at a Comfortable Pace in a Sped-Up Society." "Before you even depart," Davidson says, "plan your vacation so that you return home one day before you told everybody you would." He adds that you are better off spending one less day at your vacation destination than coming back to work too abruptly.
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