http://rockwallcares.blogspot.com/

http://steverwarren.blogspot.com/

The Rockwall Keller Williams office is organizing a rummage sale for the benefit of this sweet family in the early part of September. As soon as a date has been set, I’ll post again. For now, anyone in the area is encouraged to donate whatever they might have to the sale by bringing it to the offices at the corner of Horizon and Ridge Rd. in Rockwall. Please be generous and make sure these follks know that Rockwall cares.

But Ms. Weston has compiled ideas from all over the nation for saving money in small amounts, but regularly, in order to stash away thousands! She gives full credit in her book, listed at the bottom, but I want to summarize a few of the best ones.

The first one I had tried before, but I’m sort of a stickler for having all the “I”s dotted and “T”s crossed, so I didn’t like it. But I know it works for some. Padding your accounts can be very helpful. Pay yourself a weekly or monthly check by entering on your checkbook balance sheet or on your accounting software program.

Another along the same lines is to save certain bills that you come into contact with, like old twenties or all the ones you have at the end of a day. It’s like putting change in a jar only it adds up faster!

One thing I do, to save up for Christmas gifts pay myself rent. I charge myself a little per week, transferring it to a savings account that I don’t draw from. Then at Christmas, I usually have several thousand to spend on my friends, my kids, and especially my grandkids! Last year, I even had enough left over to take a cruise!

Some of the others suggested:
• saving expense reimbursements since they’ve already been paid
• depositing rebates or coupon savings into a special account
• rounding up each check when you log it in (making it look like you have less than you do
• saving the raises that you get (unless you’re on a commission basis!)

My favorite one was from a guy who had his account automatically transfer 1 hour of his wages each week. That way, he saved 52 hours worth of pay every year. If he was making about $30 per hour, that would calculate to more than $1,500. Not sure I could use it in my situation, though!

If this were a perfect world, we wouldn’t need these little tricks and hooks in order to save money, but I’m not perfect and I don’t know anyone who is. (Although some are closer than others!) So what tricks for saving money do you have???

Liz Pulliam Weston’s new book, “Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life,” is now available. Columns by Weston, the Web’s most-read personal-finance writer and winner of the 2007 Clarion Award for online journalism, appear every Monday and Thursday, exclusively on MSN Money.

So Summertime is crucial! But here in North Texas, it can also be critical! Even though June isn’t considered the “Dog Days of Summer,” June 2008 sure is starting to feel rather doggish. Though it might be tempting to revel in the warmth of the weather, mid-90s is no picnic and even a short amount of exposure can lead to long hours of discomfort, troubles with complexion, and even illness.

Its important to get used to the sunshine in slow increments, rather than in marathon sessions. Young children are at an even greater risk because of their sensitive, delicate skin. Outdoor time for them should be before 10AM or after 3PM and always with sunscreen. Every childhood sunburn raises the risk of skin cancer, so proper and regular usage of sunscreen, including reapplication throughout the time of exposure, is vital.

Be careful in choosing your sunscreen. Each one will be labeled with an SPF (sun protection factor) which indicates how long a person can safely stay in the sun without being in danger of sunburn. For instance, most people with a medium skintone can use an SPF of 15 and stay out in the sun for about 2 1/2 hours. Fairer skin would require a higher SPF for the same amount of time, while darker skintone could use the SPF 15 and stay out for 5 hours before having any reaction.

It’s important to be proactive with suncare, rather than reactive. While it isn’t hard to apply sunscreen ahead of time, it is impossible to repair damage once it is already done. Further, once the skin has begun to turn the slightest tinge pink, the damage has already been done and the skin will continue to redden even after the sun exposure is over.

Hats are also a good way to protect against over-exposure to the sun. Not only will a wide brim give shade to the neck, ears, and shoulders, it will also cover the scalp itself. Even a full head of hair can’t always keep a scalp from getting burned, and a burned scalp is painful and troublesome. However, those who are sensitive to heat may wish to use an umbrella instead. Hats have a tendency to hold in the heat.

Speaking of heat, the hot, humid weather in Texas can lead anyone to drink (and drink and drink!) Make sure it is water! Old fashioned H2O is still the surest way to rehydrate yourself regularly. Sports drinks and electrolyte solutions are good in a pinch, but water is still the best. Make sure you drink every 30 minutes to avoid heat exhaustion.

So plan ahead, enjoy yourself, and be careful out there!

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