THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9509290046
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: AROUND THE HOUSE
SOURCE: BY MARY FLACHSENHAAR, SPECIAL TO HOME & GARDEN
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
THE EXPENSIVE season of the year is right around the corner so the time is right for sharpening money-saving skills. Here's a sampling from a list of money dos and don'ts in a recent issue of Woman's Day magazine:
Some dos:
Cut off the good parts of old jeans and reuse as potholders.
Hem your own pants and skirts.
Reinforce buttons on coats and jackets with heavy-duty thread before they fall off.
Check your husband's closet for old jackets, the kind that could be stylishly recycled in someone else's wardrobe.
Buy holiday craft supplies just after a holiday, not before.
Use rags, sponges and cloth towels instead of paper towels.
Use fabric-softener sheets for at least two dryer loads. After that they can even be re-used for dusting or lining the bottom of a trash can.
Some don'ts:
Don't drive more than 10 miles to save $1 or less. You'll spend more on gas than you'll save.
Don't do it yourself when you don't know how. Making plumbing or electrical repairs can be costly and dangerous.
Don't stockpile more food or supplies than you can use. Food spoils eventually, even in the freezer. Poster paints and other craft supplies don't work when they're old, and even cosmetics can become thick, gummy or hard to use after a while.
Don't use cheap materials for time-consuming projects. If you're going to spend many hours sewing a quilt or needlepointing a pillow, invest in the best materials you can afford.
Don't buy discounted clothes that need major alterations. Unless you're a skillful seamstress, you're likely to spend more than the clothes are worth.
Don't keep appliances well past their prime. Ancient refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners use far more energy than new models. ALL ABOUT COLLECTIBLES
The CIB is not related to the CIA although the organization is like a central intelligence agency for collectors.
The Collectors' Information Bureau is a not-for-profit trade association of 80 manufacturers and marketers specializing in limited edition collectibles. The organization tracks the secondary market values of more than 40,000 limited edition collectibles such as plates, figurines, dolls, cottages, steins, ornaments, bells and graphics.
Twice a year the CIB reports these values in its publications, which are often used by insurance firms in establishing original issue prices and replacement values.
Collectors may call the CIB to receive, free of charge, quotes on the current values of two pieces, in addition to the names of two dealers who might be able to help buy or sell these collectibles.
For more information about the CIB and its publications, or to inquire about the worth of an item, call (708) 842-2200. Or mail an inquiry to CIB, 5065 Shoreline Road, Suite 200, Barrington, Ill. 60010. KEEP SHEETS SNUG
Sheets that shimmy, slip and slide can turn a good night's sleep into a nightmare.
To the rescue comes a new product called Sheet Snugglers, three-sided foam pieces that fit tightly over each corner of a mattress. The snugglers promise to keep sheets, mattress pad and dust ruffles in their place, no matter how much you toss and turn. They work with any size mattress, any type fabric.
A set of four Sheet Snugglers retails for about $6 at Linens 'N Things in Loehman's Plaza on Virginia Beach Boulevard in Virginia Beach. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
by CNB