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Supermarket Tricks That Makes Us Spend More
I've always thought of myself as pretty sharp when it comes to spotting supermarket trickery. I'm not even fazed by an end-cap display announcing, "Special." I know their ways. They hope we'll just assume that "special" means …Read more.
The Struggle to Actually Use up Gift Cards
My love-hate relationship with gift cards has intensified. What a pain, really. I'm one who just forgets to use them, and when I remember, I try to figure out how to use each one to the last cent. I was reminded of my situation recently when I …Read more.
Commingle Personal and Business Finances? Never!
Dear Mary: I am reading your book, "Debt-Proof Living," and have begun tracking my expenses. I have a home-based business. Should I include business expenses or just personal expenses in the tracking? — Lucy, Vermont
Dear Lucy: You …Read more.
In Recessionary Times, Thrift Stores Are Booming
I love to read about the ingenious ways people are dealing with the effects of this unrelenting recession. Reminds me of a news story I read recently about the rise in popularity of thrift stores. They're becoming so popular, in fact, new ones are …Read more.
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Oh, Baby, What a Great Gift!If there are expectant parents in your circle of friends, you may be racking your brain to come up with a gift for the baby that will be useful, unique and affordable. I've got an idea. Create a "Baby's Medicine Cabinet" gift basket. This may not be the flashiest gift at the baby shower, but you'll be the hero later on, when frightened parents realize you have armed them with the over-the-counter medicines and treatments most often recommended by pediatric health professionals. You'll save them from the stress of a middle-of-the-night search for a 24-hour pharmacy. Here's a list of items to include in your gift basket: —Infant rectal thermometer. While there are several models, Vicks baby rectal thermometer gets rave reviews for its accuracy and ease of use. Retail: $15. —Tylenol concentrated infant drops. Doctors often recommend this for babies who have just been given their immunizations, have teething pain or are running fevers. Retail: $7.99. —Motrin infant drops, which contain ibuprofen. This is another pain reliever and fever reducer that should be included in your gift basket to make sure you've covered all the bases. Retail: $9.99. —Little Noses decongestant nose drops. When babies are congested and have difficulty breathing, pediatricians often recommend saline nose drops to loosen and thin the mucus secretions and to aid respiration.
—Pedialyte. Doctors prescribe this product to prevent dehydration when children are vomiting or have diarrhea. Retail: $8.99 for four 8-ounce bottles. —A+D zinc oxide diaper rash cream with aloe. This is the diaper rash cream of choice for most pediatric health professionals. Retail: $5.99. —Hydrogen peroxide. A fresh bottle is great to have on hand to treat minor scrapes and cuts. Retail: $1.99. —Neosporin antibiotic cream plus pain relief. This ointment soothes a child's painful cuts, scrapes and burns while preventing infection. Retail: $5.99. Fill out the gift basket with a bib, baby rattle, pacifier or kid-friendly Band-Aids. Wrap it in cellophane. Add a cute gift tag and your gift is complete. Here's another idea: Create a second basket for the new grandparents. I can tell you from personal experience that they will have loaded up with all kinds of equipment and supplies but will have forgotten to stock any kind of infant medicines and health treatments. How quickly we forget. By the way, my first grandson was born strong and healthy July 7, 2009. His name is Elijah. I can assure you that his grandparents are totally smitten. 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. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM
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