Issue Date: July 1, 2007
Let your house make money
Do you live in a tourist area? A city sponsoring a major sports event? Rent out your home for extra cash while you vacation or bunk with pals. But keep good records: If you rent out your main home at least 15 days in a tax year, you'll need to declare the income, tax authority Barbara Weltman says. You often can deduct rental-related expenses (advertising, cleaning) against that income.
Some tips on renting out your home:
Market aggressively. Place a classified ad through your local newspaper or online at Craigslist.org. And vacation-home rental sites often let you list a one-time, short-term rental, especially if you live in a tourist area, says Joan Talmadge, co-founder of weneedavacation.com. And be sure to check with the organizers of special events to see if they are listing available lodging options on their websites.
Check out your renters. Get the names and ages of all adults and kids housed (note: renting to college students is almost always a bad idea). Ask for references from previous landlords or vacation agencies. Call references to find out how the renters left the house and whether neighbors complained.
Use a lease, and get a security deposit. A lease makes it official, no matter how short-term the rental is. Renters who sign one and pay a deposit are more likely to act responsibly, Talmadge says.
Make sure your homeowner's policy covers liability claims from renters. If not, you'll likely need to purchase a special rider, says Jeanne Salvatore, of the Insurance Information Institute.
Protect your valuables. Store collectibles, heirlooms, electronics, jewelry and silver out of the house, says Alex Chang, of EscapeHomes.com. Other less valuable or personal items that you don't want to leave out can be stored in a locked closet or garage.
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Help with your shopping list
Tired of carrying around crumpled, illegible lists to the grocery store? Jot this down: the SmartShopper ($149.99, smartshopperusa.com).
This handy voice transcriber, an innovations award honoree at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show, helps you keep track of your shopping needs. To start a list, press "Record" and say the name of the item that you want to buy -- anything from pet shampoo to plum tomatoes. When you're finished, just press "Select" and add the item or brand to the list, which is visible on the black and gray LCD screen.
The SmartShopper runs on four AA batteries and can stick to your refrigerator or mount on the wall. The shopping list prints out on paper that resembles a supermarket receipt and is organized by store departments, such as "Frozen Foods" or "Laundry Supplies."
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Booze fuels breast cancer
Startling fact: A recent study showed that breast cancer in women makes up 60% of alcohol-attributable cancers worldwide, says Jian-Wei Gu, M.D., of the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
For the first time, the researchers demonstrated in a novel mouse model that even moderate alcohol intake can stimulate breast tumor growth and malignancy, and it promotes development of blood vessels to feed the cancer.
Danish researchers also found that women who consume 22 to 27 drinks a week more than double their chances of breast cancer, compared with women who have one to three drinks per week.
Summertime at the office
Summer is full of wonderful distractions, but co-workers' skin shouldn't be one of them. The formality of office attire often diminishes as temperatures rise. Every workplace is different, and some are a lot more lax than others. Remember, you'll be judged by your appearance, so be sure you're comfortable with the message your clothes are sending.
For women: The more skin you show, the less influence you have. Maintain a professional look by mixing seasonal items with classics. Pair sandals with a wrap dress, and capris with a lightweight blazer.
For men: Neat and clean matters. Wrinkled khakis and a stained or faded polo shirt are just as bad as showing up wearing shorts and a T-shirt. You can't go wrong with wrinkle-free chinos and a button-down shirt. A jacket is optional. Wear socks -- please! -- and lace-up shoes or loafers.
For both: Flip-flops are distracting -- they make noise, and they take casual workplace dress too far. Remember, if people focus on your clothes for the wrong reason, you're wearing the wrong clothes. No dress code? Ask for one. The more specific it is, the easier it is to figure out what to wear.
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