Do Your Back-to-School Shopping in Someone Else’s Closet

If your cash flow has been reduced to a trickle, you may be finding the thought of back-to-school shopping more than a little stressful. Of course you want to send the kids back to school with new shoes, clothes and school supplies, but what can you do if the funds are just not as available as they once were? Get creative! Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

• ThredUP. With this amazing website, America’s busy families are exchanging their kids’ clothing online. Here’s how it works: Go to http://www.thredUP.com to register. The company will send 10 empty boxes to you. While you’re waiting for them to arrive, start browsing the website for boxes of clothing that interest you. Once you find a box of clothes you want, you will pay $13 for shipping and the person who posted that box will send it to you. Then you list a box of clothing you want to swap. Once your box is chosen, you are notified, and you ship it for free. ThredUP even will arrange for UPS to pick up the box from your home at the time you specify. Membership at thredUP is free; premium is $29.99 per year. There are thousands of boxes full of clothing just waiting for kids like yours to wear to school this fall.

• Consignment stores. Most areas have specialty consignment shops just for children’s clothing. Once Upon a Child, a national chain, offers once-loved items, many with tags still attached because they never have been worn. You can find locations at http://www.OnceUponAChild.com/locations.aspx.

• Uniforms. More and more schools are moving to school uniforms. Even with all the benefits, uniforms can be expensive, especially if you have several children. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can save money on school uniforms. More and more stores are stocking them, including Costco. Be sure to check clearance racks in late September and early October, after school has started. You also can buy uniforms used. Check children’s consignment stores frequently. If your school doesn’t have a uniform resale night already, organize one yourself. Have parents bring outgrown uniforms to swap or sell.

• Neighborhood swap. You could have a neighborhood swap organized by next weekend. Consider the clothes you have to swap, and multiply that by all the houses in your neighborhood. Get the neighbors together. Serve some wine and cheese and just see how creative you will be. It’ll be good for your pocketbook and fun for everyone.

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, “Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?” You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

Fun Housecleaning Wins Tip of the Month

Just wait until you read the July Tip of the Month. If you’re looking for a great way to cool off in the hot sun and get some housecleaning done at the same time, here’s a great way to do it. It even may win you some help from the little ones in the house. Congratulations to Joan V. for winning a one-year online membership to Debt-Proof Living (http://www.DebtProofLiving.com) for this tip:

BLIND HOUSEKEEPING. For $9.99, I bought a 42-inch wading pool. I put it on my patio table, filled it with suds and water, and washed all of my window blinds in it. I didn’t have to bend, stoop or make a mess in the house. After I washed the blinds, I hung them over outdoor chairs, rinsed them with a hose and let them dry. Now it’s time to refill the pool and give the dog a bath! — Joan V., e-mail

TRASH TALK. We have a trash compactor in our kitchen. I don’t use it because I recycle everything and we barely put out two bags of trash a week. I always have wished it were another cabinet instead. Then I got the idea to use it as a temporary recycling stop. Now I put only recyclable plastics and glass in it. That way, I don’t have to carry recycling outside more than once or twice a week. — Jodi H., e-mail

WALNUT WONDER. When I was growing up, our cats would jump onto our dark hardwood piano and scratch it. My mom used to rub the scratches with the meat of a walnut (no shell, of course!). Most of the scratches on that piano are invisible to this day. I still use walnuts for furniture scratches, and they work well. Test the method on a less visible area to be sure it doesn’t darken the wood, but I haven’t had that problem yet. — Bonnie, e-mail

AMAZING SAVING. When my son was an infant, he received $20 or $30 in cash for special occasions, such as Christmas and birthdays, from grandparents and friends. I opened a savings account for him and put all the money in it. At his age, he never missed it. Then I had young neighbors who liked to host weekly parties. Afterward they were more than happy to drop off sacks of aluminum cans at my house. I sold the cans and matched the profits out of my pocket, all of which I added to my son’s savings account. Eventually, I went to a stockbroker and had him set up a fund for my son with me as the custodian. I transferred the savings money into it and added to it regularly. When my son turned 15 years old, this account was worth $28,000. The amazing thing about it was that saving the money was painless. — Debra M., Colorado

5 Clever Ways To Cut Pet Costs

Even a free pet can turn into a major expense unless you are careful to cut the costs whenever possible. Today’s great reader tips do just that — and in some new and unusual ways.

FLEA REMEDY. For more than 30 years, I’ve treated my dogs for fleas and never had a single flea enter our lives. I use brewer’s yeast with garlic. You can purchase the pills at any reputable pet store or Walmart. I buy the large economy size because it must be consumed daily, and I have three dogs. There are no harsh chemicals, and the dogs do not smell of garlic. There are added health benefits to both garlic and yeast, so it is my choice over chemical flea treatments. — Barbara, Colorado

BUCKETS OF CENTS. I own two feline companions, so I keep a supply of cat box filler on hand. I like the handiness of cat box filler in buckets, but it is more expensive. The buckets run between $15 and $18 unless they are on sale. One day, I discovered a bag of the brand I use for about $5. I have empty buckets at home. I started buying the bags and filling up the buckets I already have on hand. — Pam, Florida

PET MEDS. It’s true that you can get some pet medications online for less than you can from your veterinarian. Before you order online, however, ask your vet to price match the medications. Most will do so, even if they only make a couple of dollars on the transaction. The pet owner keeps the relationship with the vet in case of emergency, receives professional advice on how to use the product, and has a way to deal with any problems that may arise. Drug manufacturers only inform vets of product recalls and only honor guarantees through them, so meds purchased online come with no protection. In the long run, those “cheaper” medications may cost you a whole lot more! — Susan C., Georgia

BARGAIN BED. Recently, I emptied a bunch of foam peanuts into a plastic trash bag. Before I could get rid of it, one of my cats discovered that it made a comfortable bed. All I need to do is cover the bag with a soft fabric, and he has his own bed! How cheap is that compared with the cost of a “real” pet bed from a pet store? — Dottie S., New York

COMPOST BOOST. I always am looking for ways to recycle things. We got two rabbits about a year ago. They’re in a cage, and I put a cat litter box filled with shredded paper from junk mail and newspaper for them to use. They do their business, and I add a fresh layer each day. After about three days, I dump the whole thing into my compost bin. I have very rich compost with lots of worms, and my garden is fantastic! It’s all about the cycle of life. — Barbara M., e-mail

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com.

How To Determine a Good Deal on Bath Tissue

There’s a question that shows up in my mailbox a lot, and it’s one that has gone unanswered until now. “How can I compare prices for toilet paper when there is no standard size?” For years, I’ve searched for a formula that would offer a way to find a bargain on bath tissue. Today’s first reader tip offers just that: a quick and easy way to compare across all the variations and packaging sizes.

TIP OF THE MONTH. Shop for bath tissue the way you shop for carpet or fabric: by the price per square foot. There is no standard square footage for a roll, but the measurements are listed on the package. I have found that the closer the price is to the square feet of tissue in the package the better the deal is for two-ply tissue. For example, if there are 525 square feet of tissue total, the price should be no more than $5.25. I have seen 360 square feet of tissue selling for $9. That is almost triple-price! This same strategy works for figuring out the best price on paper towels, too. — Terri D., Minnesota

COLOR KEEPER. Years ago, I worked for the Gap, back when you still could buy unwashed Levi’s. We always suggested that you dry-clean your jeans or slacks just once before laundering them for the first time. The chemicals in the dry cleaning process help set the dye into the fibers, so they do not fade as quickly. — Diane K., Ohio

PURSE-FREE. I don’t carry all of my membership cards everywhere I go, and I even have stopped carrying a purse or a wallet. I only carry my license and any cards I know I’ll need that particular day. This may seem a little extreme, but it happened as a gradual result of leaving my credit cards at home. Instead of swiping my rewards cards, I just give the cashier my phone number, and I still get all the benefits. This arrangement rarely has caused me a problem, and I have found living purse-free to be incredibly liberating. — Lorelei O., e-mail

MUSICAL MICE. When I heard a mouse in my bathroom drawers shredding my cotton swabs and leaving droppings, I put small headphones in the drawer, found the most obnoxious music station I could, and turned the volume up to high. Rodents hate loud noises, and it drives them away. Once the mice leave, block all entrances. — Elizabeth M., e-mail

SMART CAR. I saved money on my auto repairs when I found a good mechanic and made friends with him. He and I take my car to his house and do the repairs there, together. I have saved more than $600 this year alone, and the next time the problem occurs, I know what to do. — Scott, Georgia

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com.

How To Stop the Charity Junk Mail Monster

Dear Mary: Every day, I receive donation requests from charities. Usually, they enclose “gifts,” such as calendars, greeting cards, address labels, notepads, religious tokens and even gloves and blankets. I’ve tried sending requests for no gifts, but they are ignored. Some charities send mailings on a weekly basis. If I could, I’d donate to them all, but I can’t, and I’m getting both frustrated and angry. I’m reluctant to make any donation at all because my name immediately goes onto a list. How can I stop these donation requests and be sure that what money I do have to give goes to reputable charities that will use it wisely without adding me to mailing lists for others? — Joy M., e-mail

Dear Joy: Sadly, with so many people unemployed, there are fewer dollars available to charities. That means charities are competing and scrambling hard to capture as many of the available dollars as possible. Some, as you are learning, are pulling out all the stops.

Donating once to a charity without a donor privacy policy in place can result in an onslaught of mail appeals from numerous unrelated businesses and other nonprofit organizations because they do sell their lists. You can limit the amount of mail you get by following these tips:

• Only donate to charities that have written donor privacy policies in place. Look for a link on the charity’s home page or donations page, and read the policy carefully, or look for this information on the printed material.

• Get in touch with the charities directly. Request that they stop sending you appeals. While you are on the phone, be sure to get the names and numbers of the third parties to whom your name may have been sold. Contact them, as well. Responsible and well-run charities are grateful for your donations and should be willing to comply with your requests.

• Concentrate your giving. Sending small donations to a variety of organizations is a sure way to get your name on a shared mailing list. Instead, focus your donations on just one or two worthy organizations to reduce your chances of getting inundated with other requests.

• Give anonymously. You can give to any charity through Charity Navigator (http://www.CharityNavigator.org) and request that your donation be sent anonymously to that organization. This will ensure that you avoid any future contact from the organization you’re supporting, and it will prevent your information from being shared with third parties.

Stopping all of this unwanted mail will take time. The normal avenues for stopping junk mail are not likely to work in your situation, as nonprofits are not bound to following direct mail rules and regulations. Do not respond to the mail you want to stop. Contact only confirms that your address is good and that you are reading their material. Your silence will get you off the lists. In the meantime, place a wastebasket next to your mailbox, and drop the junk in there as it arrives.

Do you have a question for Mary? E-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com.

6 Clever Ways To Give Trash a Second Life

I don’t know who invented dryer sheets, but I can tell you that they’re good for lots more than softening clothes. Even after they’ve done their duty in the dryer, dryer sheets come out ready to go back to work. They make dandy dust cloths for TV and computer screens. They make quick work of cleaning up a yucky casserole (just fill the pot with warm water and a used sheet, and come back the next day), and, my all-time favorite, a dryer sheet makes a perfect stabilizing layer inside a quilt block. Today readers share other ways they rescue “this” and use it for “that.”

FREE SHIPPER. I sell books online through Half.com when I no longer need them. To keep from having to buy boxes for shipping, I carefully pull the glued side of a cereal box apart and turn the box inside out. I insert the book and use plastic bags as filler. Then I tape it shut. Besides the tape, I have created a completely free shipping box. — Kim, Ohio

SEEP STOPPER. My kitchen sink stopper doesn’t hold water very well. It allows the water to seep out. I discovered that the plastic top of a yogurt container holds water way better than my sink stopper ever did. — Jacqui F., Florida

RECYCLED ART. The art teachers at our local public schools take donations, including toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, coffee cans, empty plastic ice-cream buckets, milk jugs, plastic and glass containers, baby-food jars, and other materials. They use the donations for class art projects. It’s amazing what they can create out of what you normally would throw away, and the teachers are so appreciative of the donations. — Carrie, Michigan

SAY CHEESE. I use Parmesan cheese containers to store baking soda, cornstarch and salt. It is much easier to measure and serve from these containers than it is from the boxes in which these products are packaged. — Kathy B., e-mail

BUCKET MANIA. We buy cat box filler by the bucket. Then we store fertilizer, ant treatment and small things, such as paintbrushes and rollers, in the containers once they are empty. I just pop the lid on and mark in big letters what’s inside. In one bucket, I cut a hole in the side and put reusable store bags in it. I screwed it to the wall so it is accessible but out of the way. — Nancy, Texas

SWEET SWEEPING. Instead of using a Swiffer sheet to pick up hair and dust on my laundry floor, I use dryer sheets. Even though they’ve been through the dryer once, everything sticks to them, making it easy to swipe the floor while I am doing laundry. — Deb, California

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com.

22 Ways To Slash the Grocery Bill

With our busy lives and harried schedules, it’s easy to forget the basics of wise grocery shopping. Here is a quick collection of the best tips I know for slashing your grocery bill:

1. Don’t shop hungry. Studies find you will spend at least 17 percent more.

2. Shop with a list. Use the store’s weekly sale ads found in the newspaper or on the store’s website as a guide, and build your menus from there.

3. Go for loss leaders. These are the items that are deeply discounted in order to get you through the door.

4. Don’t buy anything that is not a sale item.

5. Know your prices. Keep a written record of the regular per-unit prices of the items you buy most often so you’ll know whether a “special” is really a bargain.

6. Buy in season. Fruits and vegetables will be the best quality and the lowest price when they are in season.

7. Shop with cash. Take only the amount of cash you have decided to spend on one grocery trip. If you come across a fabulous bargain and don’t have enough cash, you always can return to the store to stock up.

8. Carry a calculator. Keep a running total of the items in your cart so you won’t be embarrassed at the checkout.

9. Shop at larger stores. Their regular prices might be higher, but supermarkets have the best sales.

10. Find a bakery outlet. They offer wonderful bargains if you can be highly disciplined.

11. Buy in bulk. But remember: If you can’t use it before it goes bad, it’s a bad deal no matter how good the bargain was.

12. Don’t buy more than you have storage space for.

13. “On sale” without a coupon is sometimes cheaper than the regular price with a coupon.

14. Buy the smallest size or quantity that the coupon allows for the greatest percentage of savings.

15. Always check expiration dates on food items. If you have a choice, choose the date farthest into the future.

16. Consider generic and store brands. Many times, the product is identical to the brand name except for the lower price.

17. Shop solo. Distractions can be costly.

18. Look high and low. Expensive brand names purposely are positioned at eye level.

19. Avoid individual-size packages. Buy the big container, and divide into smaller portions at home.

20. Learn sale cycles. Study sale fliers until you recognize predictable cycles. Buy enough when it’s on sale to last until the next sale.

21. Look for “two for one.” These days, scanners always ring up each individual item, so if the deal is “two for one,” you likely will be able to buy one for half-price. Check the store’s policy.

22. Keep moving! One study reveals that the typical shopper spends about $1.75 for every minute spent in the store. Know why you’re there. Get what you need, and get out!

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, “Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?” You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com.

Ease Your Mind With These Surprising Travel Tips

Today I have a couple of pre-emptive tips for those of you who will be traveling this summer. The first is for those who will be traveling abroad, and the second is for travelers who plan to pay bills early before they leave town for extended periods of time.

Tip 1. Here’s what international travelers need to know before they take off this summer: American Express, MasterCard and Visa charge your bank (usually 1 percent) to convert dollars to the local currency when you travel. The bank that issues your card also charges a fee for each transaction (typically 2 percent). This international transaction fee is added to any purchase, whether it be a $3 piece of pizza or a $5,000 piece of art. You can avoid this fee by comparing credit cards and choosing the right card before you leave. An additional 3 percent, on top of all your other travel costs, is going to make your vacation even more expensive.
Capital One is currently the only major issuer that does not charge a foreign transaction fee. In fact, the bank also eats the 1 percent charge from Visa and MasterCard. That means that if you were to make a $500 purchase abroad with a Capital One card, you would save up to $15.

Tip 2. There are two common reasons that homeowners send extra money to their mortgage companies:
–To pay down the principal. When you pay down the principal, your loan balance goes down, but you still have to make the next scheduled payment. Let’s say you make your regular mortgage payment in May, plus three extra payments. You enclose a note that the additional payments are to pay down the principal balance. You still will have payments due in June, July and August, as scheduled.

–To pay the account ahead. On the other hand, let’s assume that you send those three extra payments because you are going to Europe for the summer and you want to pay all of your bills in advance before you leave so you won’t have to think about it. In this scenario, you want to “pay ahead.” You’ll be back before the September payment is due.

If you are not clear on how you want the extra funds handled, the lender might assume you want to pay down the principal balance. You head off on your trip assuming you’ve made your mortgage payments. You don’t get the late notices because you’re not at home. You arrive home, only to learn that your house is in foreclosure for failure to pay. You cannot assume the mortgage company will pay your account ahead automatically if you do not send clear instructions.

When you make prepayments on your mortgage, always enclose clear instructions. Then follow up with a phone call in a week or two to make sure those instructions were understood and followed.

Happy travels!

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, “Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?” You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com.

6 Clever Ways To Give Old Stuff a New Life

Hoarding useless stuff wreaks havoc on your peace of mind, but putting something to use in a new way saves money and makes you feel as if you’ve done something good for both the local landfill and your wallet. Let these great reader tips inspire you:

PERFECT PORCH. We had a rusted metal rack in the bathroom. It was the kind that has shelves and sits over the toilet. When we got a new shelf, my husband cleaned and painted the old one with rustproof paint. Then he attached it to the wall on our front porch. Now I have a beautiful unit for my small plants, statues and decorative watering cans. I put a larger plant under it that gets watered from the plants above. Visitors love it. They always ask where they can get one for their porch. — Aleta, e-mail

SHEET SHAKE. I use retired bedsheets in my car to keep dirt, grime and other things that might leak from soiling the car’s interior. I haul everything from plants to motorcycle and vehicle parts in my SUV, so this is a great way to keep things nice. When there is dirt, all you have to do is pull out the sheet and shake. It has saved me a lot of work on carpet cleaning and vacuuming. — Connie R., e-mail

METAL-MAKER. You can sell an old car for the metal weight to a company that recycles junk autos. Most junkyards are equipped and eager to pick your car up for free and pay you for the metal. I live in a small town, and we have three junkyards that haul autos away to crush them. After that, the flattened cars go to metal mills, which chip them into smaller pieces and sell them to other companies. It’s a great way to recycle. Processing metals means less mining and landfill waste and a way to bring in some cash! — Caroline C., e-mail

TRASH KEEPER. If you buy pet food, use the empty bags for your garbage. It saves you from having to buy expensive plastic bags. To keep your trash from spilling, simply staple the top together. An ordinary paper stapler works well. — Hermie S., e-mail

PAPER SAVER. I recently got a good shredder at work that shreds almost anything into small pieces. We ship truck parts and accessories all over the United States, so I save the shreds for packing material. I also take whole pieces of used paper, cut them in half with the paper cutter and staple them together for the mechanics to use as scrap paper next to their phones. This saves me from having to buy notepads. — Cathy S., Florida

GREASE GRABBER. I use an old, worn-out doormat under my grill. It catches all the drips and has rubber backing, which keeps my wooden deck free of grease. — Sue C., Pennsylvania

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including “Debt-Proof Living” and “Tiptionary 2.” To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

8 Things To Do With a Tax Refund

It’s easy to see a tax refund as some kind of gift from the universe. It’s not. It is a chunk of your annual income you should have been getting all along in your regular paychecks. Plan now for how you’ll manage it, or this refund easily could evaporate.

1. Treat it like a paycheck. Give away 10 percent, and save 10 percent; put the rest into your household account. This is especially advisable if you are having trouble keeping up with your current financial obligations.

2. Stash it. Put it in your contingency fund (a pool of money you keep in a safe place for serious emergencies) or freedom account. Don’t think twice. Just get it into the bank quickly, before you are tempted to pick out a new TV or book a vacation trip abroad. Money in the bank lets you back away from the “edge” in ways that buying more stuff cannot.

3. Open a Roth IRA. Talk with your bank or go to http://www.vanguard.com to discover your options. Provided your contingency fund is well-funded and you are not drowning in credit card debt, this may be the perfect opportunity for you to boost your retirement funding.

4. Reduce credit card debt. You can send any amount at any time to your credit card account. Sending a great big unscheduled payment could be the jump-start you need to become debt-free. Determine that you will stop using that card and keep paying extra until it’s at $0.

5. Replace a monster. It might be time to replace that energy-guzzling refrigerator or furnace. Having the funds in hand to pay cash will put you in a beautiful position to negotiate a great deal.

6. Pump it into your car. Get the routine maintenance or repairs on your car that you’ve been avoiding. Preventive maintenance is almost always cheaper than repairs.

7. Build a stockpile. Set this money aside to be used weekly at the grocery to stock up on “best deals.” Carefully peruse the ads, and then match sale items with manufacturer coupons to get rock-bottom prices.

8. Invest in you. What do you need? A trip to the dentist, a couple of hours with a good therapist, a day at the spa? If that renews your joy, it might be the best money you ever have spent.

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, “Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?” You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

A Great Gift Idea That’s Also Cheap

I always have dreamed of having a closet in my home that is stocked with gifts for every occasion. That way, when I needed a gift, I wouldn’t have to go shopping. I would just duck into my own closet and pick out the perfect item. Hey, I said I was dreaming! But I had a great wake-up call when this month’s Tip of the Month landed on my desk.

TIP OF THE MONTH. I buy seasonal kitchen hand towels at 50 to 75 percent off after every holiday on the calendar. I keep them in a box in my closet until I need an awesome household gift. They especially make a wonderful bridal shower gift — a collection of New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas kitchen hand towels for the new bride! — Pam R., Indiana

ADDRESS MASTER. When I got a new address book for my purse, I did not want to write all the names and phone numbers into it by hand. I decided to use computer labels. I had room to put the name, address, house and cell numbers and e-mail addresses. This saved so much time, and the result is totally legible. — Janet F., e-mail

TIMESAVER. When I go through the store circular and identify the items I wish to purchase, I cut the advertisements out and staple them together in the corner. When I’m trying to determine which product is the sale item, I have all of the advertised details and a picture of what I’m trying to buy. If I need help from store personnel, I can show them the advertisement. If I’m at the supermarket that I frequent most often, I arrange the clipped ads in the order in which they are found in the store. Likewise, I arrange the corresponding coupons I’ll be using with the sale items. This makes my shopping trips efficient. — Sharon J., New Jersey

VINEGAR LOVE. I have found vinegar useful this past year. We have a beautiful piece of carpet right in the heavy traffic area. Equal parts of plain white vinegar and water with a good stiff brush got out most of the stains, and it doesn’t smell. I used the vinegar mixture in the rug shampooer to remove the rest of the dirt. I also add a cup of vinegar to my laundry during the rinse cycle. It removes the remaining soap from the wash, eliminating the need for dryer sheets or softening liquid. — Linda, e-mail

BEDTIME BUZZER. As much as I waste money, I waste time. How many nights do I stay up way past what would be an appropriate time to go to sleep? This leads to extra snacking and exhaustion in the morning. I use an alarm to tell me when to wake up in the morning, so, I thought, why don’t I use an alarm to tell me when to go to sleep? I set my alarm for a reasonable bedtime with a 15-minute snooze feature. This gives me a little leeway, but by the second alarm, it is time for shut-eye. Why didn’t I think of this when my daughter was younger? It would have been a great help in establishing bedtimes! — Roz L., New York

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including “Debt-Proof Living” and “Tiptionary 2.” To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

This year’s attendees will sample over 100 types of cheese from 50 different cheesemakers, a variety of locally produced wines and beers, and several other artisan foods, including maple syrup, honey, chocolates, baked goods, and more. The Festival will also feature three tasting seminars, a cheesemaking demonstration, and a cooking show.

Among the “big cheeses” taking part in this year’s Festival will be:
• Sean Buchanan, Executive Chef, Stowe Mountain Lodge, Vermont;
• Steve Jenkins, Cheesemonger and author of several books including The Food Life and the best-selling Cheese Primer;
• Kate Arding, Cheesemonger and co-founder of Culture, the premier cheese magazine;
• Janet Fletcher, Food writer and author of 18 books on food and wine including The Niman Ranch Cookbook, The Cheese Course, and the Four Seasons Pasta;
• Marc Druart, Master Cheesemaker at the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese;
• Robin Schempp, Culinologist and President, Right Stuff Enterprise, Waterbury, Vermont.
Sean Buchanan will lead a cooking demonstration on ways to incorporate cheese and other local products into cooking. Kate Arding and Marc Druart will introduce visitors to the basics of cheesemaking, while Steven Jenkins will lead a panel discussion on the ins and outs of artisan cheesemaking.  Janet Fletcher will educate attendees on the best wine and cheese pairings.

“Vermont’s artisan food industry has become one of the most well-established and highly recognized in the country,” said Allison Hooper, co-owner of Vermont Butter & Cheese Company. “The Festival allows us to showcase some of Vermont’s best products, and judging by last year’s record attendance, there is definitely a growing interest in this type of hand-crafted and locally produced food.”

“Many of the cheesemakers and other artisan food producers are running small operations,” said Laini Fondiller, President of the Vermont Cheese Council. “This Festival provides them with a unique chance to reach consumers from across the country, helping to increase recognition of their products and grow their businesses.”

On Saturday, July 24, the day before the Festival, more than 20 creameries, vineyards, and breweries state-wide will participate in Vermont Artisan Food Open Studio Day. Open Studio Day includes special tours and tastings and gives travelers a great reason to spend a weekend of artisan food discovery in Vermont.
Tickets are available at http://www.vtcheesefest.com/ for $30 each.

For further information or to attend the Festival, contact: Elizabeth Davis, Boardman Davis Communications 802-598-7155 or edavis@boardmandavis.com.

This year’s slogan, “Fun Guaranteed – If We Don’t Put a Smile on Your Face, Your Next Visit’s on Us!” reiterates the Champlain Valley Fair’s commitment to providing a great experience for fairgoers. Champlain Valley Exposition staff will meet with anyone who has encountered an issue that prevents them from having a great time. In consideration of the feedback that is shared by the fairgoer, they will receive a complimentary admission for their next visit. This marks a longstanding belief that the Fair wants to make every visit as enjoyable as possible to those who come through the gates, and will go the extra mile to see that any problems are resolved.

Fantastic midway rides, including two roller coasters, are provided for the 31st year by Reithoffer Shows. The popular ride Speed, which hurls riders more than 60 mph over a 120-foot arc, will be back. A wide variety of fair food, including local treats like corn on the cob, smoked meat and maple cotton candy, will be on hand for hungry visitors. And for shoppers, the air conditioned comfort of the Robert E. Miller Expo Centre will house hundreds of vendors.

Free entertainment, including the U.S. Marine Corps Marching Band, will be featured around the Exposition, as well as acts like The Dazzling Mills Family jugglers, Dock Dogs, Anastasini Family Circus in the Big Top Tent, Draft Horses, Racing Pigs, and much more. Once on the fairgrounds, visitors can expect to be amazed and delighted by the variety and skill of the entertainment on hand.

Competitive exhibits continue to draw entries from all over the northeast, just as they have since the fair began in 1922. Blue ribbons are awarded in dozens of categories, including art, fruits and vegetables, flowers and Bonsai, cattle, horse, pony and oxen pulling, home crafts, fine arts, sheep, poultry and rabbits. In addition, the culinary department offers bakers a chance to show their talents in a range of competitions, including cookies, pies and breads. Chili lovers will also get a chance to shine, as well as youth bakers in the “ugly cake” decorating contest.

The Coca Cola Grandstand will be the site of some of the biggest names in entertainment at the Fair in 2010. On opening night, Lyle Lovett and his Large Band will take to the Comcast Stage to provide a unique musical kickoff for the Fair. Country music fans will have their day – and then some – on Sunday, Aug. 29, as the WOKO Country Club Music Festival offers an incredible lineup of artists over six hours. Headlining the festival is Trace Atkins, who is joined by top acts Aaron Tippin, Gwen Sebastian and Love and Theft during the afternoon. Local favorites Jamie Lee Thurston and Keegan Nolan will also appear. The Bud Light Music Series continues on Labor Day Weekend as teen sensation Justin Bieber will perform on Friday night, Sept. 3. On Saturday, Sept. 4, country superstar Keith Urban will be the headliner, joined by American Idol winner Kris Allen. The series finishes with comedian Bill Cosby on Sunday, Sept. 5. Tickets for all shows are available at the Flynn Box Office. Tickets purchased in advance include free gate admission to the Fair the day of the show. Tickets are available online at flynntix.org or by calling (802) 86-FLYNN (863-5966).

Motor sports take center stage for three days of the fair. On Tuesday, Aug. 31, A Night of Fire & Destruction highlights automotive destruction. Monster Trucks, cars, motorcycles, ATVs, and a 30-foot robot named “Transtormer” combine for a fiery smash-up in the Coca Cola Grandstand. Wednesday, Sept. 1 features the Earth Waste Systems Demolition Derby, and Monday, Sept. 8 is the Dixie Chopper Grand National Tractor & Truck Pull. Tickets for all events (which do NOT include gate admission to the Fair) are available at flynntix.org.

The Champlain Valley Fair, presented by Progressive, runs Aug. 28 to Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to midnight. Gate admission is just $10 for adults, $5 children, kids under 5 are free. Convenient on-site parking is just $5 per vehicle. Special deals for group, advance and seniors – buy early and save when you get your tickets before the Fair. Get great discounts when you buy at Price Chopper stores.

The Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction – it’s “Fun Guaranteed.” For more information, visit cvexpo.org or call (802) 878-5545.

From leisurely wildlife-viewing paddles in inlets and bays to cruise ships on Lake Champlain, one of the best ways to experience summer in Vermont is on the water. The following are just a few of the options for getting out, cooling off, and enjoying the season.

Glen Findholt offers tours on his vintage sloop, Friend Ship. “It’s a way to experience Lake Champlain the way people experienced it in the early twentieth century,” he said. “It’s a little more intimate than other ways to get out on the lake.”

For those looking for more than just a passive cruise, Findholt allows visitors to help out with the rigging and take a role in sailing the sloop. In addition to the Friend Ship, the Spirit of Ethan Allen offers narrated cruises four times a day from May through October. There are a variety of themed cruises including those devoted to Caribbean music, jazz, lobster dinners, and a murder mystery. Northern Lights also offers lunch, brunch and scenic cruises. All three cruise ships leave from Burlington.

For those looking for a more active way to enjoy the water, there is always sailing. Robin Doyle of the International Sailing School (ISS) refers to sailing as a lifelong sport which can be learned at any age. “It keeps you young in body and spirit,” she said. “It’s a wonderful retirement sport.”

The ISS offers a series of classes for those who just want to rent a boat for a short trip on the lake as well as those who dream of lengthy getaways. Doyle said the difference between older and younger first-timers is that seniors sometimes prefer a more comfortable boat than the Solings which are traditionally used for lessons. However, she has not found that older students have more fear than their younger counterparts. If anything, Doyle said, older students are more motivated. “…They want to get their dreams fulfilled.”

Doyle doesn’t see age or reduced stamina as a drawback to learning to sail. “It’s like skiing,” she said, “you can get in shape just by doing it, but staying in shape certainly helps.”

If sailing is too intimidating or expensive, there are always canoes and kayaks. Craig Richardson of Umiak Outdoor Outfitters said the number one criterion for more mature paddlers getting into these crafts is the weight of the boat. For that reason, if you are taking to the water for the first time, you might tend to favor kayaks over canoes which may be easier to lift on and off your car. Richardson recommends that folks purchase kayak carts that allow you to wheel your craft to and from the water. The Paddleboy cart is the most popular of the carts sold at Umiak.

Richardson said older kayakers tend to prefer kayaks with large openings which prevent them from feeling claustrophic or trapped and allow easy entry and exit. A popular model is the Wilderness System Pungo which is 12 feet long and weighs 40 pounds. Richardson noted that although shorter boats may be lighter, they usually don’t track as well. Wider boats are generally more stable.

Richardson said the most important additional pieces of equipment are a paddle and a personal floatation device (PFD). Those starting out in the sport generally favor lighter paddles which are made of fiberglass. Richardson said newer PFDs have mesh covering the lower portion of the back. This makes the jacket more comfortable on a warm day and also matches up against the backrest of recreational kayaks like the Pungo. In contrast, a foam-backed jacket can get wedged up against a seat and cause discomfort. Although Umiak recommends that all kayakers wear spray skirts, Richardson said older adults generally find them too confining and purchase splash decks instead. Splash decks are made of waterproof nylon and have a long zipper. They function as half a spray skirt which can protect kayakers from both water and the sun.

Richardson also recommends the purchase of a pump to help get water out if the boat were to capsize.
Jane Yagoda, owner of True North Kayak Tours, said many of her clients are in their late 50s and early 60s; some have kayaked for years, while others are new to the sport. Yagoda said she provides lessons on how to perform solo and two-person rescues, as well as how to execute a move called an Eskimo roll which involves deliberately rolling the boat upside down and back again. The oldest person she has seen master the roll was 68. Yagoda recommends that even experienced paddlers practice rescues on a regular basis. She noted that some strength is needed for kayaking but in many cases, smarts will compensate for lack of strength. “Get the right equipment,” she said, “take some lessons, keep your eye on the weather and don’t go out alone.”

Vermonters don’t have to head out on the Almost Great Lake to enjoy the water. There are numerous smaller lakes and ponds including Joe’s Pond in Danville, Lake Iroquois in Williston and Hinesburg, Lake Dunmore in Salisbury and Lake Willoughby in Westmore. Paddling is also possible on many sections of the Lamoille, Mad and Winooski rivers. Bird watchers will enjoy the Missisquoi River in Swanton, Dead Creek in Addison and Little Otter Creek in Ferrisburgh.

Jeremy Brooks, owner of Brooks to Bays Nature Tours, leads canoe and kayak tours in marshy areas and on rivers. Although some of his customers have been paddling all their lives, others are beginners so Brooks takes time to make sure that people are comfortable in their boats. Many of Brooks’ customers are seniors; his oldest customer is 89 years old. Since Brooks trailers his fleet of boats, he can take his customers anywhere, but some favorite locations are the Missisquoi Bay and Dead Creek. Although he has enough boats for 18 clients, most of Brooks’ outings are with more intimate groups of four. “In Vermont, we’re blessed to have nature in our backyard,” he said. “Every trip is something new and different. You see things you’d never know were there if you were just driving by.”

Brooks hopes his trips are also an educational experience. “I’ve never had a tour where nobody learned something,” he said. “Even if you forget three-fourths of what you’ve seen, you will go home with something new.”

To learn more:
The Friend Ship – www.whistlingman.com
The Spirit of Ethan Allen – www.soea.com
Northern Lights – www.lakechamplaincruises.com
International Sailing School – www.vermontsailingschool.com
Canoe and Kayak Rentals – www.voga.org/water_activities.htm#Guide%20Services
True North Kayak Tours – www.vermontkayak.com/
Brooks to Bay Nature Tours – www.brookstobays.com

The two also discussed how surface refinishing keeps perfectly restorable bathtubs, tile, vanities and kitchen countertops out of landfills. In the last year, Miracle Method kept nearly 2,000,000 cubic feet of worn bathtubs, tile and countertops out of landfills. Local Miracle Method owner Doug Painter estimated he has saved more than 100 tons from going to the landfill.

Miracle Method provided a sample before-and-after bathtub and company Marketing Director Don Dominick traveled to New York for the show. “It was great to have Miracle Method recognized on national television as the best,” says Dominick about the experience.

In business for over thirty years, Miracle Method is the nation’s largest surface refinishing network. By refinishing all types of tubs, showers, tile and countertops, Miracle Method can change colors, extend the life of the fixture for 15 years or more, and save up to 75 percent compared to traditional replacement costs. The company provides its surface refinishing services to homeowners, hotels, university housing, hospitals and property managers.

To learn more about Miracle Method and to see samples of their work, log on to www.miraclemethod.com or call Doug Painter at Miracle Method’s Vermont location at 985-5551.

A 1934 alumnus of the University of Vermont (UVM), Francis Colburn embarked on an artistic career at the Arts Students League in New York, eventually returning to UVM, where he served as artist-in-residence and established the University’s Art Department. Also affiliated with UVM, albeit briefly, Ronald Slayton was enrolled at the University for the 1935-36 academic year. He left and joined Francis Colburn in the federally funded Works Progress Administration project (WPA), which ran from 1935 to 1943. The two artists are among the few native Vermonters to have participated in this government project.

Themes common to both Colburn’s and Slayton’s work produced during this period reflect a socially activist spirit, expressing sympathy with the labor movement and exhibiting an affinity for left-wing politics ranging from New Deal liberalism to socialism and communism. Although Slayton consistently used art to promote social change, he also responded to the beauty of the world around him through colors and forms that reflect an intense interior vision. Colburn also diverged from his socially driven art of the 1930s and 1940s to experiment with Surrealism, making him one of the first native-born Vermont artists to respond to European Modernism.

The exhibition, consisting of over 50 paintings, drawings, watercolors, and prints, will close on August 29.
For more information on Fleming Museum visit www.flemingmuseum.org or call 656-0750.

Just weeks after composer and vocalist Graham Russell was honored with a BMI Million-Air Certificate recognizing 3 million performances of the duo’s hit “All Out Of Love,” Air Supply’s new song was the number one most added track on the FMQB AC40 Chart, number three most added on the R&R (Radio and Records) AC Chart and number two most added on the Mediabase AC chart.

Many of the superstars Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock are sharing chart space with weren’t even born when the duo was scoring its most enduring early 80s hits like “Lost In Love,” “Making Love Out of Nothing At All” and “The One That You Love.”

Mumbo Jumbo is Air Supply’s first studio album of all original material since 2002’s “Across The Concrete Sky.”

Air Supply is touring the U.S. this year. The tour includes a stop at the Theatre at Westbury in Westbury, New York on July 22.

For more info on the band, visit www.airsupplymusic.com.

Peter Small discovered his knack for sculpture when he took a pottery class shortly after retiring 20 years ago.
“It was like putting a shovel in the ground and finding gold,” the Williston resident said. “Once I got started, there was no stopping me.”

Small and his wife, Beatrice, moved to Williston from upstate New York three years ago. The walls of their Michael Lane home are covered with paintings and sculptures on pedestals, some of which are Small’s.
Small makes about 30 sculptures a year, which sell for between $250 and $5,000, depending on the work.
“I like the fact that (sculpture) is very tactile and that I have ways to create what I imagine,” he said.

Many of Small’s sculptures are elaborate heads or torsos with interesting designs or textures. He also made a series where he recreated figures by famous artists, including Edvard Munch and Paul Gauguin.

Lately, though, Small has been working on pieces that show figures interacting with each other, like a recent piece depicting two wrestlers.

“It was a very complicated piece with arms and legs going in every direction,” he said. “It really came out the way I hoped.”

Small said one of the highlights of his sculpting career was when Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts curator Elizabeth Sussman chose him as one of the 80 artists in a show at the Katonah Museum of Art in New York. More than 1,500 people applied for the positions.

“That sort of gave me affirmation,” he said.

Small said he is hoping to find a gallery to display and sell his work.

“That would be nice,” he said. “At this point I would rather sculpt than merchandise my own
work.”

The first show is the amazing “Spring Awakening,” written by Frank Wedekind. The play was recently turned into a Broadway musical that won the Tony for Best Musical in 2009.

“Spring Awakening” traces the dawning sexual awareness of four youths. Despite the recent success of the musical based on the play, “Spring Awakening” closed after one night in New York in 1917 amid public outrage and charges of obscenity. But even more radical is the unsentimental and brutal comedy with which Wedekind treated it.

The second show is a new play written by Rutgers Playwriting MFA Candidate Josh Levine called “Game Over.” A brutal and darkly comic play, it gives us a glimpse at the intimacy sometimes achieved in the most terrifying and savage of places. Two soldiers, Marcus and Jimmy, return from Iraq and must face the task of reconciling the bond formed overseas with their ever-differing reactions to the war. But, for these two friends, the road back to “normal” is just as explosive and unpredictable as the war itself. Red Stage is excited to perform the East Coast premiere of this startling and exciting new play.

To fulfill its social mission, Red Stage is working closely with the United States Refugee Institution to collaborate in hosting multiple workshops for children from the various populations to help them explore their own cultural stories through theatre. For more information, visit www.redstagetheatre.org or call Red Stage Theatre Company, 802-318-7935.