Learn How To Organize
And Get Things Done
Do you feel like you’re always working to keep up, but don’t really get anything done, especially around holidays? In his best-selling book Getting Things Done, David Allen gives you an effective time management system to help you organize your stuff, your work activities and your personal life.
Allen’s key idea is to start with a “mind sweep” ─ get everything out of your head and down on paper (or other written form). Once your mind is cleared, your productivity goes up and you can focus on creative action. His five basic stages of mastering your personal or professional “workflow” are:
1) Collect. Capture anything and everything that is on your mind.
2) Process. Decide what each thing means. Is it something you should do? Do it now or later? Can you delegate it (and track on a “Waiting For” list)?
3) Organize. Place the items in categories, such as Projects, Calendar, Next Actions and Waiting For, and sub-categories of your choice. (To help you visualize this, he includes a diagram for navigating through the processing and organizing phases of your workflow.)
4) Review. Go over Calendar and Action lists daily and do a weekly customized review to get clean and current.
5) Do. Make choices about your actions based on what you can do, how much time and energy you have and your priorities.
Another one of his most popular methods is the “two minute rule.” If any task can be completed in less than two minutes (for example, a quick email response), do it immediately. Stop putting those little things off.
Allen says Getting Things Done is “just advanced common sense.” But once you learn how to get everything under control, real change begins.
Millions of people around the world have found that his methods work. To order the book, search for “Getting Things Done” at www.amazon.com.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Gift Cards Just Got Better!!
You may have hesitated to give gift cards last year because of the confusion over fees and expiration dates. Now they’re better to give ─ and receive ─ because new protections went into effect in the U.S. in August. Here’s what you should know:
The gift card must be good for at least five years from the date of purchase. Money added must be good for five more years. If the card expires and there’s unspent money, you can request a replacement card at no cost.
Fees are limited and must be disclosed on the card or its packaging. Note: You can be charged a fee if you haven’t used it for at least a year.
Rules affect store gift cards and cards with a MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover logo. Some other types of prepaid cards aren’t included.
New rules don’t apply to cards purchased before August 2010. So if you have some sitting in a drawer, be sure to read the documentation that came with them. Look for fees for “dormancy,” “inactivity” or “maintenance.”
To make the most of a gift card, use it right away. If you aren’t going to use it, give it to a friend or swap it on a web site like www.plasticjungle.com.
The gift card must be good for at least five years from the date of purchase. Money added must be good for five more years. If the card expires and there’s unspent money, you can request a replacement card at no cost.
Fees are limited and must be disclosed on the card or its packaging. Note: You can be charged a fee if you haven’t used it for at least a year.
Rules affect store gift cards and cards with a MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover logo. Some other types of prepaid cards aren’t included.
New rules don’t apply to cards purchased before August 2010. So if you have some sitting in a drawer, be sure to read the documentation that came with them. Look for fees for “dormancy,” “inactivity” or “maintenance.”
To make the most of a gift card, use it right away. If you aren’t going to use it, give it to a friend or swap it on a web site like www.plasticjungle.com.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Save Money with Your Holiday Dry Cleaning Bill
How to Stay Healthy and Save
Money with Your Dry Cleaner
Does it seem unusual to see an article about dry cleaners? Perhaps. But dry cleaners are one of the most complaint-ridden businesses in the United States, according to the Better Business Bureau. At the top of the complaint list are lost items and damaged garments.
Worse yet, some of the chemicals dry cleaners use can be downright dangerous! Clearly, there are reputable dry cleaners, but next time you drop off your items, here are a few tips for protecting yourself as a consumer.
Always Ask For A Receipt. When you drop off an item to the cleaner, ask for a receipt indicating what you had cleaned. It’s helpful to include the size, color, and brand name if possible. When a dry cleaner acknowledges they lost a garment, they are supposed to pay the full price of a replacement. A detailed claim ticket will be your best argument.
What To Do About Damaged Clothing? Damaged clothing is a different story. Dry cleaners refer to the Fair Claims Guide published by International Fabricare Institute to assess the depreciated value of damaged garments. One-year-old cotton suits, skirts, shirts in average condition get just 40 percent of their original price. A 5-year-old wool blazer will get you 15 percent of the actual cost. If they ruin an item classified as an heirloom (such as an antique Persian rug) demand fair market value for its replacement.
PERC Is A Toxic Chemical. Most dry cleaners use PERC (prechloroethylene) a probable human carcinogen, to clean your clothes. The National Institute for Occupational Safety found that dry cleaning industry workers were 25 percent more likely to die from cancer than the general population. Remember, this chemical is on your garments. Take the plastic bags off, and air out your garments before wearing.
Watch Out For “Meet Or Beat” Gimmicks. The BBB warns that dry cleaners are notorious for “bait and switch” advertising, where the dry cleaner claims he will match or beat a competitor’s price. The catch is you will have to walk in with the competing dry cleaner’s price list to qualify for the discount.
Watch Out For The “Special Handling” Charge. Women are often charged more than men for dry cleaning similar items. Women’s shirts are a common item of contention that dry cleaners claim need “special handling” for a variety of reasons. Ask up-front if any women’s clothing needs “hand-cleaning” and how much you will be charged for the work.
Ask Your BBB For Help If You Have A Problem. You may also go to Small Claims Court if you have a grievance against a dry cleaner. There is no guarantee small claims will get you a settlement, but sometimes the threat of action is enough to settle a dispute.
Taking a few small actions and asking the right questions of your dry cleaner can save you considerable money and headaches in the long run.
Money with Your Dry Cleaner
Does it seem unusual to see an article about dry cleaners? Perhaps. But dry cleaners are one of the most complaint-ridden businesses in the United States, according to the Better Business Bureau. At the top of the complaint list are lost items and damaged garments.
Worse yet, some of the chemicals dry cleaners use can be downright dangerous! Clearly, there are reputable dry cleaners, but next time you drop off your items, here are a few tips for protecting yourself as a consumer.
Always Ask For A Receipt. When you drop off an item to the cleaner, ask for a receipt indicating what you had cleaned. It’s helpful to include the size, color, and brand name if possible. When a dry cleaner acknowledges they lost a garment, they are supposed to pay the full price of a replacement. A detailed claim ticket will be your best argument.
What To Do About Damaged Clothing? Damaged clothing is a different story. Dry cleaners refer to the Fair Claims Guide published by International Fabricare Institute to assess the depreciated value of damaged garments. One-year-old cotton suits, skirts, shirts in average condition get just 40 percent of their original price. A 5-year-old wool blazer will get you 15 percent of the actual cost. If they ruin an item classified as an heirloom (such as an antique Persian rug) demand fair market value for its replacement.
PERC Is A Toxic Chemical. Most dry cleaners use PERC (prechloroethylene) a probable human carcinogen, to clean your clothes. The National Institute for Occupational Safety found that dry cleaning industry workers were 25 percent more likely to die from cancer than the general population. Remember, this chemical is on your garments. Take the plastic bags off, and air out your garments before wearing.
Watch Out For “Meet Or Beat” Gimmicks. The BBB warns that dry cleaners are notorious for “bait and switch” advertising, where the dry cleaner claims he will match or beat a competitor’s price. The catch is you will have to walk in with the competing dry cleaner’s price list to qualify for the discount.
Watch Out For The “Special Handling” Charge. Women are often charged more than men for dry cleaning similar items. Women’s shirts are a common item of contention that dry cleaners claim need “special handling” for a variety of reasons. Ask up-front if any women’s clothing needs “hand-cleaning” and how much you will be charged for the work.
Ask Your BBB For Help If You Have A Problem. You may also go to Small Claims Court if you have a grievance against a dry cleaner. There is no guarantee small claims will get you a settlement, but sometimes the threat of action is enough to settle a dispute.
Taking a few small actions and asking the right questions of your dry cleaner can save you considerable money and headaches in the long run.
Monday, December 27, 2010
How to Use Your Old Coffee Grounds
Don’t Throw Away Your
Old Coffee Grounds
Did you know there are many uses for your Java besides drinking it? Both the grounds and the liquid can help you around the house.
Use coffee grounds in your garden or flower pots for composting. As the grounds decompose, they add much needed nitrogen for your plants. Plus, they increase the acidity of your soil. Adding water to grounds makes a great liquid fertilizer, and you can even feed it to your friendly garden earthworms.
You can also use coffee grounds as pest control. Spread some of the grounds around ants and their mounds. Caffeine appears to be a deadly poison for the little critters. Plus coffee is much less harsh and expensive than chemicals.
Old Coffee Grounds
Did you know there are many uses for your Java besides drinking it? Both the grounds and the liquid can help you around the house.
Use coffee grounds in your garden or flower pots for composting. As the grounds decompose, they add much needed nitrogen for your plants. Plus, they increase the acidity of your soil. Adding water to grounds makes a great liquid fertilizer, and you can even feed it to your friendly garden earthworms.
You can also use coffee grounds as pest control. Spread some of the grounds around ants and their mounds. Caffeine appears to be a deadly poison for the little critters. Plus coffee is much less harsh and expensive than chemicals.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
What's Your Deductible?
A Simple Way to Save BIG
On Auto Insurance…
Sometimes the simplest things are the most effective. That’s certainly true with minimizing your cost of auto insurance. Here’s a quick way to almost instantly save 10 to 30 percent on your auto premiums.
Simply take a close look at your deductibles. By increasing discretionary deductibles, such as comprehensive or collision, you can save you a bundle on your insurance premium. This is especially true if you have a good driving record. So check your policy and call your agent – it’ll be time well spent!
On Auto Insurance…
Sometimes the simplest things are the most effective. That’s certainly true with minimizing your cost of auto insurance. Here’s a quick way to almost instantly save 10 to 30 percent on your auto premiums.
Simply take a close look at your deductibles. By increasing discretionary deductibles, such as comprehensive or collision, you can save you a bundle on your insurance premium. This is especially true if you have a good driving record. So check your policy and call your agent – it’ll be time well spent!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
What to Look for in a "Green" Home
Q. I’m planning to buy a “green” home. What do I need to look for?
A. Here are some of the features you should look for, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB):
Energy-efficient. Look for appliances, windows and water heating systems with ENERGY STAR® ratings and efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs. Renewable energy sources further decrease energy consumption in the home.
Water-efficient. Look for programmed, low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems and hot water recirculation systems.
Resource-efficient. The home should use strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. It should contain renewable materials and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles and concrete formulations.
Indoor Air Quality. The heating, air conditioning and ventilation system must be appropriately sized. Look for low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and finishes.
To ensure the home is “green,” look for the Green Certified mark issued by the NAHB Research Center.
If you have any questions, or need capable and trustworthy representation, please call me at 206-226-0565.
A. Here are some of the features you should look for, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB):
Energy-efficient. Look for appliances, windows and water heating systems with ENERGY STAR® ratings and efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs. Renewable energy sources further decrease energy consumption in the home.
Water-efficient. Look for programmed, low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems and hot water recirculation systems.
Resource-efficient. The home should use strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. It should contain renewable materials and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles and concrete formulations.
Indoor Air Quality. The heating, air conditioning and ventilation system must be appropriately sized. Look for low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and finishes.
To ensure the home is “green,” look for the Green Certified mark issued by the NAHB Research Center.
If you have any questions, or need capable and trustworthy representation, please call me at 206-226-0565.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
CPR Is Now Spelled C-A-B
If you saw someone in sudden cardiac arrest, would you know what to do? According to new guidelines from the American Heart Association, you should begin chest compressions immediately.
The Association has changed the order of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from A-B-C (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) to C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing). Instead of tilting the victim’s head back to open the airway first, you should start with chest compressions to help pump oxygen-rich blood to the victim’s brain and heart sooner. The sequence change applies to adults, children and infants (excluding newborns).
If you see someone who suddenly collapses, the Association recommends Hands-Only CPR (CPR without breaths). Take the following steps: Call 9-1-1, and push hard and fast on the center of the victim’s chest (at a rate of at least 100 times a minute) until professional help arrives.
The Association has changed the order of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from A-B-C (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) to C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing). Instead of tilting the victim’s head back to open the airway first, you should start with chest compressions to help pump oxygen-rich blood to the victim’s brain and heart sooner. The sequence change applies to adults, children and infants (excluding newborns).
If you see someone who suddenly collapses, the Association recommends Hands-Only CPR (CPR without breaths). Take the following steps: Call 9-1-1, and push hard and fast on the center of the victim’s chest (at a rate of at least 100 times a minute) until professional help arrives.
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