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Setting the Records Straight
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For more information about flood insurance go to www.floodsmart.gov.
Give Cautiously
With countless people now in need of help, it's heartwarming to see so many others coming forth to donate money.
But before you write a check or charge to your credit card, it's important that you know to whom you are giving your hard-earned dollars. The last thing you want is for your donation to end up with a con artist.
Earlier this year, after the tsunami catastrophe, I wrote a column ("Be Generous, But Be Careful," Jan. 9) listing several tips that givers should heed before extending aid to disaster victims.
To be safe, check this Washington Post listing of reputable nonprofits collecting donations for Katrina victims.
Penny-Pinching Practical Tips
With gas prices so high, we could all use some penny pinching tips. So here again are some leftover entries from this year's Color of Money Penny Pincher of the Year Contest:
Sandra Kraft of Oklahoma City wrote: "I buy packages of eight to 10 shower caps at the dollar stores for $1 and use them to cover salads, cookies, hors d'oeuvres, etc. They will stretch to cover the largest salad bowls and are cheaper than buying regular food covers in the stores."
Jennifer Irwin of San Francisco says, "A more painless (albeit trivial) way to pinch pennies is to save the wax paper and foil wrappers from butter and margarine sticks and use them to grease baking pans. I fold the wrappers in quarters and keep them next to my butter dish in the refrigerator. I know this sounds silly, but it really saves time and aggravation."
Ernestine Green of Buffalo wrote: "There are always paper towels in the kitchen for washing hands before cooking. After washing my hands, I place the paper towels in a sandwich bag. The towels are then used for wiping up the floor, spills on counters etc. I think of it as recycling."
Financial Fact
