- Wet hands with warm, running water and apply soap.
- Rub hands together well to make a lather, and scrub all surfaces. Pay special attention to between those fingers and under jewelry. Continue for 20 seconds, or while you sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
- Rinse well under warm running water.
- Dry hands thoroughly using paper towels. Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and to turn the door knob, if necessary.
Cost-Saving Tips for the Holidays
With the holidays approaching, here are some cost- and waste-saving suggestions for you to use.
Holiday Cards
· Holiday cards can be costly, for both your wallet and the environment. This year, try sending e-cards instead. There are sites where you can create a customized slide show, add photos and music to really personalize your message.
· Making a short phone call would still cost less than a postage stamp and your loved ones would probably much rather hear your voice than receive a card in the mail.
· If you must send cards, try to cut your list in half and buy cards that are made from recycled or sustainably-produced paper products. If you have old holiday cards, cut them in half and make postcards. You’ll save on postage too.
Wrapping Your Gifts
· There are plenty of alternatives to traditional paper: decorate brown paper bags, use towels, bandanas, scarves or sleeves from old flannel shirts, reuse gift bags from previous years, use magazine pages to wrap small gifts or even comic paper. You can also use wallpaper remnants you might have on hand.
· If you sew, you could use scrap material to wrap gifts.
· Old holiday cards can make great gift tags.
· Consider old holiday lights, tape measures, shoelaces or other household items to make interesting and unique package decorations. You can also save and reuse ribbons from year to year.
· Save tissue or wrapping paper from other gifts throughout the year. Then decorate the wrapped gift with holiday images or even just the words “Happy Holidays!” You could add some stickers, stamps, paint, markers or glitter. Great projects to do with kids!
Keeping Your Food Dollar $ in Check 
As everything from utilities and gas to household staples increase in price, many people want to know how they can make their dollar go further. One of the things we can do to alleviate the strain of rising food costs is to shop smart. Here are some simple tips that can help you save money and make your food dollar go further.
- Make a grocery list.
One of the most important things you can do as a smart consumer is to keep a list of items you need to buy at the store. Make sure to keep this in an accessible location such as on your refrigerator. This will help you avoid impulse buys like unnecessary and expensive snacks. This will also allow you to save on gas by going to the grocery store less often, preferably once per week. Make sure to take the list with you to the store, stick to it, but remain flexible as you might find a great sale. To help you remain on track regarding your grocery list, avoid shopping when tired or hungry because this may cause unnecessary, unhealthy choices.
Read more
Beware of Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators
As part of a fraudulent scheme to extort money from consumers, callers have falsely identified themselves as officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Consumers should know that FDA officials never contact consumers by phone to demand money or any other form of payment. "Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law," says Michael Chappell, FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs.
Read more….
Keeping A Check On Your Household Spending
Nearly 32 cents of every dollar spent by American families is for groceries and household items. Individuals make an average of three trips a week to the grocery store, and one or more stops at a drug or discount store. In many instances, people are spending money they could otherwise be saving for the future because they fail to compare, and get the most for their money. Stores cleverly display merchandize in locations that do not escape the eyes – all designed to get the shoppers to spend. Read More ...
Fair Debt Collection: Dealing with Creditors
More consumers are finding themselves hounded by aggressive debt collectors who don’t always play it by the rules. According to the Better Business Bureau, preliminary figures show that complaints against debt collectors increased by 20% in 2006 and 26% in 2007. If you use credit cards, have a personal loan, or are paying on a home mortgage, you are a debtor. If you fall behind on any of these payments, or an error is made on your accounts, you may be contacted by a debt collector. As a consumer, here are some things you need to know. Read More ...
Phase II Water Restrictions
As of Friday, April 18, 2008, the following Phase II water restrictions went into effect.
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Odd street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and/or 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
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Even street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Thursdays and Sundays from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and/or 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Hand-watering with one hose fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed 10 minutes per day for landscape stress relief and to prevent plant die-off.No restrictions apply to other outside water uses, such as for car and boat washing or for pressure cleaning of paved surfaces.
Start At The Store: Prevent Foodborne Illness
Safeguarding your home against foodborne illness does not begin at home, but at the supermarket, grocery store, or any place where you buy food that will be stored and served. According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year, foodborne illnesses cause about 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,200 deaths nationwide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends seven steps consumers can do while they shop for food in order to prevent these illnesses. Read More...
Foreclosure Rescue Scams
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued an advisory that provides advice to help borrowers from becoming victims of foreclosure rescue scams. Most foreclosure rescue scams fall within three categories. In lease-back or repurchase scams, the con artist convinces a borrower to sign over his deed in return for a promise to lease back or eventually repurchase the property. Refinance fraud involves a situation where the borrower believes the transaction is a refinance, but in fact, the fraud involves transfer of property ownership to the con artist. Bankruptcy schemes involve repeat bankruptcy filings to get a temporary stay order to delay foreclosure, but can result in damaging the consumers’ credit without saving their homes. Read More ...
Reverse Mortgages: What You Should Know
Reverse mortgages can be helpful to homeowners who want to stay in their homes but are having trouble keeping up with their mortgage payments, or who have no other source of funds to pay bills or meet unexpected expenses. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is urging homeowners who are thinking about reverse mortgages to make informed decisions and carefully weigh all their options before proceeding. If you decide a reverse mortgage is right for you, be sure to make the wisest use of your loan. Read more...
Get Coupons to Convert your TV from Analog to Digital
On February 17, 2009 , television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. At that time, you can watch TV using one of the following options:
• Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a converter box.
• Keep your existing analog TV and use cable, satellite, or another pay service (if you already have pay TV services, your TV viewing will be uninterrupted).
• Use a TV with a digital tuner.
If you plan to continue using analog televisions without any pay TV services, you can apply for up to two coupons per household, to use towards the purchase of converter boxes. The coupons, which are being provided by the federal government, are worth $40 each. Visit USA.gov’s link to DTV2009.gov to apply for coupons.
How do I request a coupon?
Between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009 , you can request a coupon while supplies last in one of four ways:
- Apply online
- Call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), TTY 1-877-530-2634
- Mail a coupon application to: PO BOX 2000 , Portland , OR 97208-2000 . Download a Coupon Application DTV2009.gov
- Fax a coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)
Source: DTV2009.gov, USA.gov
Planning on getting married?
Current research has shown that there is a 33% lower divorce rate among couples who attend a premarital preparation class.
The Palm Beach County Extension Service has been approved by the 15 th Judicial Circuit to teach the Premarital Preparation class, Before You Tie the Knot. Couples who take this 6-hour class receive a discount on their marriage license and a waiver of the 3-day waiting period to get married.
The next premarital class will be held on December 29 & 30, 2008 from 6pm to 9pm. The couple must attend both classes. The cost is $20.00 per couple. For more information and to register call the Extension Service at (561) 233-1742.
