Cheaper, Better, Faster (25 page)

Stains and spots—mildew on white
fabrics

To remove mold or mildew stains from most white fabrics, soak the garment for an hour or so in a solution of 1 tablespoon vinegar,
½
cup liquid bleach, and 2 quarts hot water. Wash and dry the garment as usual.

Stains and spots—on Little League uniforms

Clay dirt from baseball fields gets on clothes and uniforms and is just about impossible to
remove. Try this: Brush off any dry clay remaining on the fabric. Treat heavily stained areas with your laundry stain treatment and then soak the garments overnight in a solution of enzyme-action detergent (like Biz), following package directions. The next morning, launder the clothes. If stains remain, repeat the whole process. Or, if the fabric is white, use chlorine bleach as a last resort.

Stains and spots—on wool and silk

An excellent spot remover for wool and silk is Murphy's Oil Soap, which is available in the household cleaning section of the supermarket. Use directly on the fabric and allow it to soak in. Always test on an inconspicuous spot like an inside seam. Wash as usual. Murphy's is also great for cars, floors, and, of course, wood furniture and cabinets.

Stains and spots—paint, tar, and rubber cement

Soften hardened paint, tar, and rubber cement on washable fabrics with petroleum jelly. Launder fabrics treated in this way immediately after application.

Stains and spots—perspiration

To remove perspiration stains, add 4 tablespoons of salt to 1 quart hot water, and sponge the fabric with the solution.

Stains and spots—rust

To remove rust stains from washable fabric, shake ordinary table salt on the stain and wet with lemon juice. Allow to set overnight, then wash normally.

Stains and spots—sunscreen

That ring around the collar on shirts and blouses may be your sunscreen, so make sure you pretreat it with a stain treatment that is designed to break down and remove grease and oil. Wash as usual, using the warmest water that is safe for the fabric. Don't put the garment in the dryer before checking to see if all the stain
has been removed. If the stain remains, the heat from the dryer may set it. Repeat treatment as necessary.

Stains and spots—yellowed fabric

Denture-cleaning tablets will remove yellow stains from fabric. Find a container big enough to hold the stained fabric. Fill the container with warm water and the number of tablets according to the ratio described on the package. After the tablets dissolve, add the stained item to the solution and soak until the spots are gone.

Stains and spots—yellowed linens

To remove that disgusting yellow from old linens that are supposed to be white, dissolve
¼
cup automatic dishwasher detergent (such as powdered Cascade) in a large stainless steel (not aluminum) pan filled with boiling water. Carefully add linens and allow them to soak, off of heat, for 8 hours. Rinse and launder as usual.

Starch—spray, cornstarch

Dissolve 1 tablespoon cornstarch in 1 pint of cold water. Place in a spray bottle. Shake well before using. Clearly label the contents of the spray bottle.

Starch—spray, make your own

If you use a lot of spray starch around your house, you've likely discovered those aerosol cans of spray starch don't last very long. Cheaper and better, purchase concentrated liquid starch such as Sta-Flo and mix it in a spray bottle, 1 part starch to 2 parts water. In this way a 32-ounce bottle of starch equals 3
½
cans of aerosol starch for a fraction of the cost.

Washing
—baking soda boost

Add
½
cup baking soda to the laundry wash cycle, and you can expect your liquid laundry detergent to get a boost in its enzymatic and cleaning action.

Washing—cut suds when hand washing

Cut excess suds when hand washing clothes by adding a splash of vinegar to the rinse. Rinse again in plain water.

Washing—in
coin-operated laundry

When at the laundromat, place a small refrigerator magnet on each washer and dryer you're using. No more embarrassing mix-ups.

Washing—inside out means longer
wear

Reduce fading and pilling. Turn clothing wrong side out before washing and drying to reduce friction on the right side of the garment.

Washing—water temperature

The bulk of your laundry is only minimally soiled. Modern-day detergents clean very well with cold water as well as warm. Your colors will last longer, too, if you use cold water. The average family can save several hundred dollars per year by switching to cold water when possible. And always rinse clothes in cold water. The temperature of the rinse cycle does not affect cleaning. Exception: Health professionals recommend that bedsheets and towels be laundered in 130ºF water to make sure nasty bacteria and stubborn germs are properly laid to rest.

Waste not—measure detergent

Measure detergent for both washing machine and dishwasher. If you just dump it in, you are probably using way too much.

Waste not—stiff laundry = too
much detergent

If items come out of the laundry stiff, you're probably using too much detergent. Don't use more than the manufacturer advises, and add a cup of vinegar to the rinse water to help soften your clothes.

Waste not—use the last bit of liquid laundry soap

When using the last quantity of liquid laundry soap, fill the empty bottle all the way to the top with water and replace the lid. Shake vigorously, and use the entire contents with your next load of laundry. You'll get one last wash from a bottle that normally would have been thrown away.

Banking—
ATM safety

When using the automatic teller machine, always wait for the “Welcome” prompt to signal that your transaction is over, and then take your card. Leaving prematurely may allow the next customer to continue making transactions in your account.

Banking—checks, buying

Don't buy checks through the bank. You can save 50 percent of what they charge by ordering through an independent source like Current, 800-848-2848 (Current.com), or Checks-in-the-Mail (checksinthemail.com), 800-733-4443.

Banking—checks,
deposit safety

Before you take a check to the bank, write on the back “for deposit only” followed by your signature and account number. If the check is lost or stolen before you can get it to the bank, it cannot be cashed or deposited to any other account.

Banking—
credit unions

Many credit unions offer low- or no-fee checking accounts and free checks. Go to
www.FindACreditUnion.com
to find a credit union that is right for you. Most credit unions welcome spouses, children, brothers, sisters, and parents of the member. You will enjoy federally insured deposits and low-interest auto loans. And you'll earn higher than bank interest rates on your savings accounts.

Banking—direct deposits

Arrange with your bank or credit union to have your paycheck automatically deposited, your bills paid automatically, and your savings funded automatically from your checking account. With this type of arrangement you will be handling your money less, so you won't be as tempted to play games with the account. The national average bank charge for online bill pay is $.69 a month, which reflects the fact that most banks offer this service for free. Your bank will be able to answer all of your questions.

Banking—go local

Switch to a smaller, locally owned bank. The fee structure will likely be lower and some services will actually be offered at no cost, such as free checking and free checks.

Bill paying—envelope method

Use the envelope system to handle your household money. Once a month (or as often as you are paid), withdraw a sum according to your spending plan categories, and place that specific amount of cash into each envelope marked for that purchase instead of keeping it in your checking account. This method will really help eliminate the temptations to “just write a check” or use your debit card for this or that. For some reason, this system really keeps folks honest and forces them to spend only a set amount in each category. When it's gone, it's gone. This provides a great visual
learning experience for children when they can actually observe their parents managing the money.

Bill paying—keeping track of due
dates

To keep track of bills that are coming due, put the return portion of each bill in an envelope, address it, stamp it, and write the due date on the left-hand corner of the envelope. File the envelopes chronologically, and review them weekly. No more late fees.

Bill
paying—pay the rent first

Which payment should you pay first when things are tight and something has to take priority? Pay the rent first. Typically, landlords act quickly if you don't pay on time.

Bill paying—pay twice
a month

Get into the habit of paying bills twice each month, say, on the 1st and 15th. During the month as the bills arrive, follow this routine: Open a bill and place the return portion in its return envelope and throw the rest away. Write the due date on the outside of the envelope and separate into two due-date piles: “1st of the month” and “15th of the month.”

Boarders

If you have an extra room, consider taking in a boarder to help defray your costs. Post a notice at a local community college or corporation. Check with personnel offices at larger corporations in your area. Often they assist employees in locating affordable housing. Before you hand over the keys to your house to a stranger, check many references, get a credit report on the candidate, and have a written contract that includes Rules of the House.

Contingency
fund in safe place

You need to have some of your contingency fund in small denominations of cash—$1,000 is reasonable, but any amount
is good. Put it in a safe place outside of your bank, like a fireproof home safe or other similarly protected receptacle, known only to you and one other person. In the event of a natural disaster that cripples utilities and services, or if the economy experiences a worst-case bank holiday scenario, you'll want to have cash on hand. (A bank holiday is the temporary closing of a bank in the event that its obligations exceed its resources. It could also occur due to a natural disaster like a flood where the bank and all its ATMs are underwater and therefore will not work.)

Credit cards—approval by phone, so leave it at home

If you've always been convinced that you must maintain and carry a credit card “just in case of emergencies,” here's what you can do to stop looking for emergencies: Write your credit card number, expiration date, and the credit card company's 800 number in your address book encrypted like “Aunt Penny,” and then leave the card at home—frozen in a block of ice. Because you don't have it and you know it will be a hassle to make purchases without it, your urges to buy impulsively will be greatly reduced. But in case of a genuine emergency, you will have the phone number and information you need to get approval over the phone.

Credit cards—
ask for a lower interest rate

If you receive an invitation to accept a new credit card with a remarkably lower interest rate, call your current credit card company and tell them about this competing offer. If you have a good track record with them, and they get the message that you just might leave in favor of the more attractive rate, you could receive an on-the-spot interest rate reduction. You'll wonder why you didn't call sooner. Remember, while the interest rate may be lower, the balance transfer fee may be huge. Read the fine print.

Credit cards—avoid annual fees

Credit card companies deny publicly that they waive annual fees, but insiders admit the practice is often used to save valuable customers. Squawk and you just might receive.

Credit cards—pay during grace period

Credit card interest is a terrible waste of money. Pay your bills in full every month during the grace period. If your credit card company charges a penalty or fee for not carrying a balance, cancel that card. There are plenty of no-fee companies who will be happy to have your business.

Credit cards—pay early in the month

Make credit card payments as early in the billing month as possible or make two smaller payments a month if you can't pay it all early. Most banks calculate interest on the average daily balance. The larger the payment and the sooner in the month you make it, the more of it will apply to the principal. It may not be much savings at first, perhaps a buck or two, but savings grow month after month until the account is paid off.

Credit cards—pay with check system

Pay your entire balance during the grace period so you'll never incur interest charges. Whenever you use your card, follow this practice. On the same day, as soon as you walk into the house, write a check for the full amount of purchase and deduct it from your account balance. You spent the money so it is no longer available to you. It's gone. As soon as the statement shows up, mail the full payment immediately.

Credit cards—personal identification
number (PIN)

Never write your personal identification number (PIN) on your debit or credit card or on anything that would readily identify what it is. Instead “embed” it in a phone number
under a fictitious entry in your phone book. Example: If your PIN is 3614, make an entry of “Penelope 361-4000.” Choose a PIN that can't be traced, and never select a number that can be derived from the contents of your wallet.

Credit cards—plastic
surgery

If you are out of control with credit cards and want to create a real turning point in your life, invite a few close friends and relatives to celebrate your plastic surgery. They'll be so curious, you know they'll show up. Of course, you intend to cut up your credit cards, then make a personal commitment to no new debt.

Credit cards—refuse surcharge

If a store adds a surcharge to your bill for paying with a credit card, refuse to pay it. Credit card companies like American Express, Visa, and MasterCard do not allow venders to add a surcharge to credit card purchases.

Credit cards—register
purchases in checkbook

To prevent month-end credit card statement shock and to also make sure you have set aside enough money to pay the balance in full when it arrives, record your credit purchases in your checkbook register in the same way you record your checks. In the first column instead of the check number, write something like “Visa” or “Credit” then deduct that credit purchase amount from your current balance. If you enter your credit card purchases with red ink, they'll stand out and it will be easy to reconcile the statement.

Credit cards—remove name from
preapproved lists

One of the problems of paying off credit card debt is the number of preselected or preapproved credit card offers that begin arriving in the mail. In order to stop these offers, call 888-567-8688 or write to: Equifax Options, PO Box 740123, Atlanta, GA
30374-0123. Include your complete name, full address, social security number, and signature. Equifax is one of the three major credit reporting agencies. They will remove your name from the lists they provide and will also share your request with the other two nationwide credit reporting agencies, Experian and TransUnion.

Credit cards—safely dispose of
applications

If you are not interested in preapproved credit applications or blank checks for an existing account that you receive in the mail, don't throw them in the trash. A thief who finds it can actually take out an account in your name and begin charging in your name. Always destroy applications by cutting them into bits and disposing of the pieces in two or three different trash receptacles. You want to make it impossible for the paperwork to be put back together. Thieves are getting very clever these days.

Credit cards—think before you carry one

Carry a credit card only if you keep the minimum balance at, or very near, $0. If you can't hold the rule, keep the card hidden in your dresser. Why? Because paying 18 percent to 20 percent on a monthly balance is crippling—a financial shot in the foot.

Credit cards—
you only need one

Accept only one credit card and make sure it has no annual fee. There's nothing virtuous about having an assortment of credit cards. One is all you'll ever need. The only thing you can do with two cards that you can't do with one is owe more people more money.

Credit “repair” services

Avoid credit repair clinics or “specialists” who make promises to solve your credit report problems. There is no lawful way to repair a bad credit report or remove a bankruptcy from your file. Don't pay them a nickel.

Currency

Prevent newly minted paper currency from sticking together by placing bills front to front and back to back.

Customer service—
call first

If you have a consumer problem, save time by calling and asking to speak to the service desk or manager. Explain your problem and ask what their procedure is for fast and effective resolution. If this is not satisfactory, have a clear idea of exactly how you would like the matter resolved.

Customer service—complaint letters

When writing a letter of complaint to a manufacturer or retailer, be clear, be bold, be neat, be brief, be courteous, be patient, and be thorough. Don't threaten; simply state the situation and ask for help in resolving your dispute. Give a date 3 or 4 weeks hence, at which time if you've not received satisfaction, you will know to take the matter to the next level.

Customer service—document
communications on a calendar

When requesting a refund, repair, or replacement, keep track of all communications on a calendar. Summarize phone calls and send a follow-up letter of understanding. Don't give up until you are satisfied.

Customer service—
record a name, date, and time

Until a problem is completely resolved to your satisfaction, always ask for and write down the name and position of the person you speak with regarding a consumer problem. Also record the date and time of the call.

Customer service—return it for a
refund

If you buy something that turns out to be faulty or unsatisfactory, don't stash it in a closet unless you have an
unusual need for white elephant gifts. Return it. Get your money back or at least get credit toward a future purchase. With merchants so hungry for business these days, I think you will discover a generous return policy.

Education—audit a class or two

If you're not sure about a particular college or course, consider auditing a class or two. Even the most prestigious colleges and universities will allow you to take two or three courses without actually applying to the school. Inquire about the auditing fee.

Education—bartering

Whether it's an education for your children or for yourself, you may be able to barter for the tuition. Offer to clean the music teacher's house in exchange for piano lessons or work in the preschool office. Whatever you do well may be just what the private teacher, private academy, or university needs desperately.