Issue Date: January 6, 2008
Go to top
3 savvy ways to trim home repair bills
A visit from the repairman doesn't have to take a big bite out of your wallet. Follow these tips from Andy Bell, founder of Handyman Matters, a franchise repair service.
Save on base charges. Repair people usually charge a flat fee of $25 to $90 or more for the visit, then add hourly charges. Gang up two or three repairs and you'll pay one base charge. If the plumber is coming out to fix the kitchen drain, don't forget the running toilet and leaky faucet.
Be clear on the phone. If a repairman knows what to expect, he'll come prepared, saving himself time and you money. Explain exactly what's broken, the history of the problem -- even ask if you can e-mail a photo of the problem spot.
Buy supplies yourself. Laying new tiles or spot-painting? Most repair services charge a markup of 20% to 100% for materials, plus the hourly fee for time spent shopping.
Go to top
Kid-friendly hotels abound
Sometimes kids stay for free.
|
Today, family- friendly accommodations go way beyond hotels with swimming pools. You can find properties that offer large rooms or suites and places that come with kitchenettes to save you the cost of dining out at every meal, such as Residence Inn by Marriott and Embassy Suites. Holiday Inn has KidSuite, a room-within-a-room with bunk beds and room to play.
You also can seek out a property that allows kids to stay for free in the same room as their parents. But if you really need a second bedroom, chains like Hyatt Hotels & Resorts have a "Family Plan" rate that lets parents book a second room for the kids at half-price.
And to keep kids happy, check out the kids' programs at Westin and Hyatt. At Holiday Inn, kids under 12 get free meals, while Loews Hotels offers the "Loews Loves Kids" program, with access to a lending library of games, DVDs, toys and cribs.
Travel writer Everett Potter's website is everettpotter.com.
Go to top
How parents can get college kids to share their grades
If you have a child in college, you know that now she gets the report cards, not you.
So how can parents be sure their beloved progenies are making the grade?
Talk to them, says Steven Roy Goodman, the author of "College Admissions Together: It Takes a Family." You're footing the bill, and you have the right to know they're holding up their end. "College kids are adults, but in most cases they're de- pendent adults," he says. "Parents do have leverage."
Forgo any ultimatums or lectures. Instead, talk about their goals. If you "speak in the language they understand -- careers and jobs -- then you can move forward as a team, and your child will feel free to share information you need to know."
Go to top
Stinky zinc problem
Is your cologne too strong? If so, you may have a zinc deficiency.
University of Tennessee research discovered that nearly 80% of a group of women and men who unknowingly sprayed on too much cologne or perfume had low blood levels of zinc.
But after six months of being fed a 50mg daily dose of zinc gluconate, their sense of smell returned, and most cut back on their scent.
About 20% to 25% of smell and taste problems are zinc-related, says Thomas Namey, M.D., the researcher in the study.
|
