How to Make All the Right Moves When Moving

Even under the best of circumstances, moving can be a very stressful experience. These suggestions may help you better prepare for your next move...(More)

Be Cool: Get Your AC Ready for a Hot Summer Now

You expect a lot from your air conditioner all summer long. Right now, give it a little special attention so you won’t be hot under the collar later..(More)

What to Look for in a Tax Accountant

As if completing your own tax forms wasn’t hard enough, almost every years tax laws making it even harder. If you’re one of the millions who would prefer to have someone else handle the paperwork, you need to know what to look for...(More)

Make Dining Out a Tastier Experience

People are eating out more often than ever, but that doesn’t mean they’re enjoying it more. Whether dining alone, as a family, or with friends, there are ways to make every restaurant experience more pleasurable...(More)

How to Make All the Right Moves When Moving

The first decision in moving is whether to hire a moving company. Most homeowners find their possessions require the assistance of professionals. If so, these hints may be helpful.

• Call several moving companies for quotes. Ask for references and check them all out with your Better Business Bureau®. Know exactly what their quote includes (boxes? packing? bubble wrap?) and how you will be able to track their movement on long distance moves. Find out about their insurance, any guarantees, and any special deals that may be available.

• If you have any particularly large, expensive, or fragile items to be moved, make sure the movers are aware you want these to receive special handling.

• If you are packing boxes yourself, allow plenty of time to wrap and pack things properly. Your moving company may be able to provide helpful hints for packing.

• Make sure all boxes are labeled, both for contents and the room in which they will go.

• Be careful about weight. No box should weigh more than 50 pounds.

• If your movers allow things to be left in dresser drawers, make sure that only unbreakable items are in those drawers. Remove items that might shift around and fill those drawers with towels and linens instead.

• Make an inventory of all items being moved, including boxes you may have boxed and labeled previously; use this as a checklist upon delivery.

• Defrost and empty refrigerators and freezers and make sure all appliances are properly stabilized for the trip.

• Be on hand throughout the packing process to answer questions and provide instructions.

• Make sure the items you decide to move yourself are put into a single place and labeled “Do not move.” Examples are cleaning supplies for your new home, toiletries and clothing for your trip, jewelry, personal records, and other similar items. Back up all your computer files and take them with you as well.

• Get a signed contract and do not offer final payment until everything has been received and examined for damage.

• Be sure to resolve any problems about damages before you sign documents approving completion of the move.

Some professional moving companies have more detailed checklists than this one to help you even more. Just in case, you may want to print and keep this checklist as a good way to start planning your next move.

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Go for a Test Run.

Before you really need it, turn on your air conditioning system to make sure it is functioning properly. You certainly don’t want to find out there’s a problem on the first hot day of summer.

Bring in a Professional.

Regular maintenance is the cornerstone for efficient operation. Every central air unit should be professionally inspected, cleaned, and tuned at least every two years. The technician should check the refrigerant, test for leaks, measure air flow, inspect electrical components, and clean the motor, compressor, air handler, ducts, coils and air filter. Make an appointment early to get the most out of your system all summer long.

Change that Filter.

Dirty air filters make your system work harder than it needs to. Keeping the air filter of your AC system clean can reduce energy consumption as much as 15%. Every month, pull the filter out for cleaning or replacement. If you do not know how to do this, ask the professional technician to show you.

Take Care of the Condensing Unit.

Make sure the outside condensing unit is uncovered and clean. Shrubs and grass should be trimmed away, preferably several feet. Also, be sure leaves, grass clippings or other debris has not blocked condenser coils. Don’t spray the unit with a hose; that could result in an electrical shock.

Adequate air flow means your system does not have to work as hard to cool your home. A well-shaded outdoor unit can be up to 10% more efficient. If your unit is in the sun, you might consider landscaping changes that will provide more shade in the future.

Reset Your Thermostat.

Make sure your thermostat is set to cool – just lowering the temperature won’t automatically make the air conditioner turn on. You should also keep the fan set to automatic – there’s no need for it to run all the time. You might want to keep your home a couple of degrees warmer, too. Raising the thermostat just one degree difference can make a 9% difference in your air conditioning energy bills. Use your ceiling fans to keep air moving and you probably won’t even notice the difference.

If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, it may be time to invest in one. Then you can automatically adjust temperature settings to reduce energy consumption at times when no one is home.

With this little added attention, your air conditioning system can keep you cool and calm all summer – even when you get your utility bill.

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To have a successful relationship with a tax accountant, there are two major steps. First, you need to find the right accountant for your needs. Then, you need to give that accountant the information necessary to complete the required paperwork.

There are all types of tax services and accountants, from tax attorneys to retail tax franchises. You can find competent tax service throughout the range. However, it helps to ask the right questions before turning over your records.

When you’re looking for a tax accountant, ask questions about the following:

• Licenses and specialties
• Years of experience in taxes
• Experience that applies to your tax situation
• Charges and fees
• Who does the actual work
• Length of time it will take

The earlier you start looking for a tax accountant, the better. The closer it gets to filing deadlines, the more rushed everyone will be. At that point, it might be too late to get anyone to just answer questions.

Once you find a tax accountant that answers your needs, it’s time to do the work that gets your records in order. Since most tax preparers charge by the hour, the more you can take care of in advance, the more money you will save.

At a minimum, be sure to have the following ready:

• All tax forms from any employer
• Statements of any other type of income, from stock dividends to trusts
• Bank statements showing interest for the year
• Information about charitable donations
• Child care information
• Details on any interest paid that may be tax deductible
• Auto costs and use (if applicable)

Ask your accountant to provide you with a list of what you need well in advance, as your particular situation may require special records and receipts. Remember, the more exact and complete your records are, the more information your accountant has to help you minimize your taxes.

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Make Dining Out a Tastier Experience

Dining out is meant to be a relaxing and delicious experience. You probably already enjoy going to restaurants, so here are some hints that might help you enjoy these outings even more.

Know before you go.

Do some research in local publications or online to determine a restaurant’s specialties, hours, price category, and other pertinent matters. Restaurant reviews can lead you to dishes worthy of your attention that you might otherwise overlook.

Study the menu.

Look over the entire menu carefully and you’ll be able to tell what ingredients the chef likes to use. A menu with just a couple of beef entrées but lots of fish dishes could indicate the chef prefers to cook fish and is probably better at it; this might influence your choice.

Order to suit you.

Ask questions about different dishes. Give special consideration to any special dishes not on the menu – these might reflect seasonal or local ingredients which means added freshness. Also, if you would prefer to order a salad and an appetizer instead of an entrée, that’s exactly what you should have!

Expect good service.

There’s no excuse for poor service. However, if your food is undercooked, overcooked, cold, or not fresh, send it back politely – it may not be the server’s fault. Mistakes do happen and an error should not ruin your entire experience. However, if service continues to be poor, complain to the manager or owner.

Eat healthy.

If you want low fat and calories, avoid foods with descriptions that include the words fried, au gratin, sautéed or stuffed. Instead, opt for baked, grilled, roasted, steamed or broiled dishes. Ask for any salad dressings to be served on the side. Also, skip the creamy soups as well as pasta dishes with cream sauces.

Embrace moderation.

Whether it’s ordering, drinking, eating, laughing, or talking, you will have a better time and so will your companions, if you do everything in moderation.

Dine comfortable with friends.

When someone asks you to dinner, carry money even if the host/hostess is treating – depending on the circumstances, you may offer to pay for the tip, a round of drinks or the wine. If the host is treating, follow their lead in ordering; selecting items of similar price and the same number of courses.

Relax.

Whether the restaurant is fast food or three stars, enjoy the moment, and take time to savor your food and your company. Best of all, bask in the fact that someone else will be doing the dishes.

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