Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten

By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist

Kindergarten will open up a new and exciting world for your child – even if he or she has spent some time in preschool. That is because kindergarteners are generally challenged with more complex tasks, must make more efficient use of time, and may be asked to take on more personal accountability than they were during their preschool years.

At the same time they will learn new skills, be introduced to new ideas, and become part of a more diverse and well-organized universe.

From a panel of kindergarten teachers interviewed by the National Head Start Association, here are some proven tips for parents on the best ways to prepare your child for an enjoyable and rewarding kindergarten experience:

• Help them develop better listening skills – Read stories aloud and ask more questions; What was the name of the dog? What do you think will happen next? What would you do if this happened to you?
• Prepare them for differences in curriculum – Children should know there will be more group activity and less free play. There will be more indoor time and less outdoor play. Their time will be more structured and teacher-directed.
• Help sharpen their social skills – Talk about sharing and taking turns. Practice using words like, “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me.” Encourage your child to be more independent about volunteering for tasks, raising their hand for attention, and putting their own things away.
• Develop their self-help and independence – Encourage them to make more choices about what they eat, wear or play. Add new responsibilities such as making the bed, helping with housework or feeding/watering pets and plants at home.
• Work on developing their self-control – Talk about ways to overcome frustration without crying or yelling; work on patience. Take more time to solve a problem. Ask for help when the work is difficult.
• Brush up on personal hygiene skills – Practice toilet habits and proper wiping. Stress the importance of covering a sneeze or cough and of hand-washing after using the bathroom.

Laundry Lessons: Coming Clean

Let’s face it: Most of us don’t exactly look forward to doing laundry. As a result, it’s one of those chores that are easy to put off until later. But putting the laundry off until later can have a downside. Hidden dirt can build up in your clothes, and it may be harder to get visible stains like chocolate or grass out of clothing.

A national survey by Wisk revealed that four out of five people admitted to at least one dirty laundry secret. Top secrets include:
• Going more than a month without changing bed sheets. In fact, only half of those surveyed wash sheets once a week.
• Taking dirty items out of the laundry basket to wear.
• Repeating underwear -- nearly one in three women admit to wearing the same bra for several days in a row, while close to one in three men admit to having worn the same socks or underwear for several days.

Most people say they "just know" when an item needs to be washed, but what they may not know is that the average wash load contains 20 times more body oil and sweat than visible stains. These hidden soils can get trapped deep in the fabric of clothes and build up over time. Leaving the laundry until later also means it becomes harder to remove visible stains. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to get rid of common stains:

Adhesive (tape, chewing gum, rubber cement) - Apply ice or cold water to harden surface; scrape with a dull knife. Saturate with prewash stain remover. Rinse, then launder.

Beverage - Soak stain in cool water. Treat with pre-wash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent, or a paste of powder detergent and water. Launder with fabric safe bleach.

Blood - New stains should be soaked in cold water for 30 minutes. Rub detergent into any remaining stain. Rinse, then launder. Dried stains should be pretreated or soaked in lukewarm water with a product containing enzymes, then laundered.
Chocolate - Gently scrape off excess chocolate. Treat the stain with a prewash spray. Follow up with an enzyme detergent to remove residue before washing.

Cosmetics - Treat with prewash stain remover, liquid detergent, a mixture of detergent and water, or rub with bar soap. Work into dampened stain until outline of stain is gone, then rinse. If greasy stain remains, soak in an enzyme product. Rinse and launder.

Grass - Treat with prewash stain remover, or soak with an enzyme product. If stain remains, launder in hottest water safe for the fabric, with a fabric-safe bleach.

Mud - Let dry, then brush off as much mud as possible. For light stains, pretreat with a paste of dry detergent and water, liquid detergent, or a liquid detergent booster; launder. Pretreat heavy stains by presoaking with a laundry detergent, a product containing enzymes.

Source: Wisk Deep

What to Buy and What Not to Buy in August

By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist

Nearly everyone is buying back-to-school clothes in August – whether they are going back to school or not – and rightly so, since every item of clothing from kids’ socks to designer shoes will be on sale this month.

But August is a good month to save money on a variety of other goods – and a good month to resist purchasing certain other items. Consumer advocate Jenny Lee keeps an eye on shopping opportunities – and recommends a few purchases it might surprise you to make or not make in August:

• Buy jewelry – Summer is a prime time for getting good buys on both fine jewelry and costume pieces. They are discounted by merchandisers to boost lagging sales until the holiday and Valentine’s Day rush kicks in.
• Buy swimwear – prices will never be lower as stores clear space for back-to-school and fall/winter fashions. Stock up now for both adults and kids.
• Buy hotel packages – As traditional vacation time comes to an end, hoteliers are looking ahead at potentially empty rooms in fall and winter. Cruise various websites now to snag economical, book-ahead deals.
• Buy grills and patio furniture – The selection may not be as great, but prices will be slashed on what’s left in August to make room for winter-friendly merchandise.
• Don’t buy fitness equipment – Prices tend to go higher as summer wanes. That’s because people are looking ahead to exercising in cold weather. Wait till winter when competition between merchants yields better prices on exercise gear.
• Don’t buy furniture – sales are basically over now as the newest fall styles are coming into furniture stores. If you can do with what you have through the holidays, wait on buying new furniture until January.
• Don’t buy bicycles – It seems logical that bikes would be on sale during the warmer weather. But historically, the best prices on bikes will come just prior to the holidays.

Save Money by Putting Home on Autopilot

(ARA) - Every homeowner can remember a time when they wondered, "Did I lock the front door this morning?" or "Did I leave a light on?" Others can attest to that feeling of dread knowing their air conditioner is running full blast while they're away on a weekend trip. There's nothing worse than worrying about the security of your home - or your rising electric bill - while you're away.

Fortunately, recent advancements in home technology offer peace of mind when it comes to energy efficiency, security and time savings. Almost any home can be put on "autopilot" without breaking the bank. Many areas of the home can benefit from some simple technology upgrades.

Efficiency

Heating and cooling a home accounts for 50 percent or more of a home's energy bill, so it's important to incorporate the latest technology to make it as easy as possible to be as efficient as possible.

"We have seen some great advancements in home technology that maximize the energy efficiency of heating and cooling products," says Bobby DiFulgentiz, an energy efficiency expert with Lennox International. "For example, as thermostats become more advanced, homeowners now have the ability to optimize home comfort and energy savings."

One example of these smart thermostats is the Lennox icomfort Wi-Fi thermostat. Homeowners can maximize energy savings through its one-touch away mode and remote control capabilities. Additionally, the thermostat communicates with a home's HVAC system and provides real-time alerts to service providers regarding any maintenance issues that need attention. The icomfort Wi-Fi also is the only thermostat that can blend into its surroundings by using customizable "skins" that match wallpaper or paint, or even allow it to be disguised as a piece of art or a family photo.

Water usage also is a concern when it comes to efficiency. Homeowners can cut down on water bills by using home sprinkler systems that incorporate Wi-Fi technology. These systems allow homeowners to start or stop sprinklers from anywhere, avoiding water waste when heavy rains have already saturated the lawn. Many systems now even include wireless capabilities that prevent sprinklers from activating during rain or freezing temperatures.

Security
Homeowners can rest easy, thanks to automated systems that ensure their home is safe and secure. Companies now offer products that check, open and close garage doors directly from a smartphone, tablet or computer. There are also lock systems that respond only to the fingerprints of residents of the home. If that's not enough, new technologies send text or email updates when doors are locked or unlocked, and can remotely lock doors through Wi-Fi.

Time Savings

Finally, kitchen appliances are beginning to integrate technologies to streamline the day-to-day routines of homeowners, allowing for maximum time savings. Consumers can take the hassle out of finding the perfect cooking setting by using a microwave that can scan a bar code on a dish and automatically adjusts to the correct time and power for the particular product. Ovens equipped with Wi-Fi allow cooks to monitor their meals on a mobile device and put the crock pot to shame.

Families can also save time while enjoying the convenience of home automation. Wi-Fi-enabled mailboxes send text or email alerts when mail has arrived. Parents can even save the time it takes to beg their child to stop playing video games by using a tool that automatically limits the time spent on an electronic device.

Peace of mind isn't all about expensive, over-the-top upgrades. Home automation can save time and money, and offer customized comfort and security, often through simple technology tweaks.

Stephen Clementi Earns Prestigious Designation

Stephen Clementi Earns Prestigious Designation

A local REALTOR^® was recently awarded the Graduate, REALTOR^® Institute (GRI) designation by the Georgia and National Associations of REALTORS^®.  Stephen Clementi of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners joins other top producers in the residential real estate industry who hold the GRI designation across the nation.

Clementi, a member of Savannah Board of REALTORS, completed the ninety-hour curriculum required to achieve the highly acclaimed designation by attending an intensive series of instruction covering a variety of subjects including contract law, professional standards, sales and marketing, finance, and risk reduction.

With this designation and through increased awareness of current topics important to the real estate professional, such as legal issues, REALTOR^® Clementi can better serve prospective clients and customers.

The GRI designation sets the individuals who have attained it apart from other practitioners because it indicates to the public that the individuals have obtained a professional education foundation on which to base the services they provide, and that they are members of the National Association of REALTORS^® and abide by its Code of Ethics.

The REALTOR^® Institute is designed to educate practitioners about local, state and national real estate practices that affect them, their clients and customers. The Georgia Institute is taught by leading real estate professionals from around the country.

The REALTOR^® Institute has been in existence for more than forty years and has graduated thousands of REALTORS^®. For more information about the GRI designation, contact the Georgia Association of REALTORS^® at 770-451-1831.

Rentals More Accepting of Furry Friends

Choosing an apartment to rent has a lot to do with its pet policy, according to a recent survey from Apartments.com. Forty-three percent of respondents are current pet owners, with more than a quarter planning on getting a four-legged friend within the next year. However, renters need to do their homework first before bringing home a furry friend, as not all apartment buildings allow pets, and the ones that do often have fees associated with pet ownership.

Current and soon-to-be pet owners are in luck because property managers and landlords are recognizing that renting with pets is an increasing trend, and more buildings are starting to accommodate this demand. Nearly 70 percent of renters surveyed reported having no difficulties finding a pet-friendly apartment. More than half of respondents also reported having to pay a pet deposit at their current residence, with 36 percent shelling out more than $200 for their four-legged companions.

The survey also found that it is not just Fido and Fifi's owners who enjoy their pet's company; more than 34 percent of respondents said although they do not have a pet, they enjoy living in a pet-friendly building, and 20 percent of non-pet owning renters said they avoid buildings that allow pets.
The top five most popular pets for renters are:

1. Small dog (Under 25 pounds): 35.5 percent
2. Cat: 24.2 percent
3. Large dog (More than 50 pounds): 13.6 percent
4. Medium dog (26 to 50 pounds): 11.0 percent
5. Fish: 4.3 percent

Source: Apartments.com

Top 5 Mid-Year Tax Tips

With taxes in the news almost every day, and many important tax breaks having expired at the end of 2011 and more set to expire at the end of 2012, taxpayers would benefit from spending some time this summer reviewing their tax profiles and learning about possible changes. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has honed in on the top five areas taxpayers should consider now, that may help put you in a better position when filing your tax returns next year:

1. Know how any major changes happening in your life can impact a tax return: A wide range of common life occurrences may trigger tax considerations, which can result in a higher tax refund or a reduction to the amount of income taxes owed. For example, did you get married? Did you have or adopt a child? Buy a home? Move for a new job? Decide to go back to school? All of these life-changing events, and many others, may have related tax deductions and credits available and it is important to know what benefits exist and who is eligible.
2. Check your withholdings to make sure they are correct: The Form W-4 determines the amount of withholding from a paycheck. In some cases, it is beneficial to consider changing a withholding status during the course of the year, such as when a child is born – leading to a new dependent to claim – or, if a taxpayer works multiple jobs during the year. Withholding can be changed at any time by completing a new Form W-4 for your employer.
3. Think about what you are saving: Putting money away in an IRA account, or participating in a company sponsored 401(k) plan, can be an easy, tax-free way to reduce taxable income and start saving for the future. Taxpayers in lower income brackets may also qualify for a tax credit. For 2012, you can contribute up to $17,000 for a 401(k) plan if you are under age 50 ($22,500 if 50 or over) and up to $5,000 for an IRA if under age 50 ($6,000 if 50 or over).
4. Beware of impending changes: A double whammy of problems for 2013 is expected to occur if provisions are not made by December 31, 2012. Taxpayers need to know what deductions and credits will be off the table – and what new considerations may be available to them that could improve their tax situation.
5. The results of the election can influence your tax situation: By the middle of November, we will know who will set the course for taxes over the next four years. There are many proposals being considered from general tax rates to tax rates on specific types of income, as with capital gains and dividends, and various considerations related to business, including small businesses.

Source: Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.