Comments on: Quick Tips from Everyday Life: Episode 1

By: Ceci

Ceci — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:41:51 +0000

I have one of those fire safes where all my important papers go in. Copy of DL, car title, insurance paperwork, deed to the house, copy of dogs vaccination records, etc. Then if I have to evacuate for a hurricane, all my important paperwork is in one spot and I just grab the safe and go. It also protects all the ‘important’ stuff from a fire.

Of course, it might help if the fire safe actually made it out of the box into a closet, and if the papers were actually IN the safe instead of scattered all over my office.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:28:31 +0000

Yes, in California as well it’s illegal to take money off a gift card.

By: KellyH

KellyH — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:42:17 +0000

Good idea. I might have to try that, especially the separation of active and non-active files!

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:20:04 +0000

I learned the hard way that the light in your trunk draws enough power to deplete your battery. 1. Double-check. 2. Keep booster cables in your car at all times.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:17:44 +0000

The penalties may vary. It’s now illegal for companies to penalise in Ontario. Find out what the rules are in your state.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:08:20 +0000

Putting gift cards in a safe spot is a good idea. Just check them carefully before you put them away. Some of them (Starbucks) will actually penalize you for holding on to them for too long!

By: Stacy

Stacy — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:48:27 +0000

I almost always put gift cards in my wallet with the credit cards. That way I’m never at the applicable store, thinking “Boy, I wish I had that gift card!” It’s always with me for whenever I want to use it.

The other tip I came by the hard way is to always, without exception, put your keys in your purse right when you get done using them–preferably in a partcular pocket. I’m a bit absent-minded, and I recall so many panicky rushed moments when I was a teenager and young adult, trying to leave the house, and not being able to recall where I left the keys. For many years I’ve put them in a purse pocket and never have had that problem again.

By: dani

dani — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:47:11 +0000

I keep gift cards in my wallet.

I have a hard time keeping track of credit cards. I have a couple of those store ones that I only use once in awhile – when they are having a promotion or if I NEED something and don’t have enough cash. I don’t keep them in my wallet so I am not tempted to spend them, and usually they get lost (bad, I know).

By: kate

kate — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:29:52 +0000

I keep gift cards in a little credit card sleeve/wallet that is separate from my regular wallet in my purse. I used to keep them in an envelope in my desk, but I kept forgetting to take them with me before running errands. It is one more thing in my purse, but it doesn’t take up much room.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:27:58 +0000

When my kids were in elementary school, for Christmas I’d take them to the local teacher supply store and have them pick out supplies they knew their teacher was low on – note pads, stickers for reward charts, sticky tack, etc. – and make up a nice little gift bag, spending between $10-12 each teacher. It got the kids involved in shopping, taught them to pay attention to what someone needed and was a gift we knew would be appreciated and used (and boy, was it ever!). At the end of the year, I’d give a gift certificate to the teacher store, too.