Do Your Kids Need Money Lessons?

It’s never too early to learn and develop good money management habits. I just found an excellent website that makes it fun and easy for parents and teachers to help young people become more financially literate. Created more than 10 years ago by the National Council of Economic Education and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, themint.org covers everything about money from earning it and saving it, to investing, spending, borrowing or giving it away.

You can take a quiz about how long it takes to become a millionaire and read articles on how to trade in old video games for cash. Teachers can find lessons on creating a budget or explaining compound interest. Kids can learn how to track their checking accounts. And parents can test their own financial IQ. Look for the Perfectcents Newsletter in the parents’ section under Teaching Tools for items you can print out for free and use.

Does It Make Sense to Remodel?

In times of economic uncertainty, people are more likely to choose to remodel their home rather than go through the expense and stress of building a new home. Warren Kaufman of Renovations, a Diamond Certified company, uses methods of design known as “Life Cycle” and “Aging in Place,” to coach clients into making the right decision.

Kaufman says it’s usually less expensive to remodel than to opt for new construction. You already have the lot, a roof over your head, and equity. Another consideration is how long you and your family plan on staying in the home. It’s wise to look at the return on investment ratio. With “Life Cycle” design planning, you’ll be asked to think about who will be living or visiting the home. If plans include staying in your home for your “golden years,” it’s possible to make simple modifications to enable you to remain in your home as long as possible.

Carwash Conservation

Washing the car typically uses many gallons of water and sends toxic runoff into storm drains and, ultimately, lakes and streams. Products such as Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash not only save water, they get cars shiny again with no runoff. A no-rinse product from Eco Car Care requires only a couple of gallons of water, to dilute the cleanser. And though Simple Green’s car wash solution requires a full rinse, the sudsy runoff won’t harm lawns or other greenery.

Identity Thieves Target Taxpayers

Eligible taxpayers will see “economic stimulus payments” in their mailboxes starting in May. In the meantime, identity thieves are using the rebates as an excuse to steal your personal information.

In one scam, someone posing as an IRS agent calls and says he or she needs your personal information to deposit the rebate check directly into your bank account.

The IRS (www.irs.gov) wants taxpayers to know the agency does not gather information by phone or through unsolicited email. Filing a tax return is the only way to qualify for the rebate or to provide direct deposit info. And all legitimate IRS Web pages begin with www.irs.gov. (The links in “phishing” email messages will take you to bogus Web sites designed to look like they belong to the IRS.)

Stop Junk Mail, Save a Forest

Each year, the production of junk mail in the U.S. uses more than 100 million trees and produces emissions equal to 3.7 million cars. To end the waste, ForestEthics has launched a campaign for a Do Not Mail Registry, similar to the popular Do Not Call Registry that curbs unwanted telemarketing calls.

Until the registry becomes a reality, take matters into your own hands. Download a Junk Mail Kit, produced by the Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition, and follow the steps to stop unwelcome mail. Cancel catalogs with the help of Catalog Choice.

No time to stop junk mail yourself? GreenDimes, a Palo Alto company, will get your name off mailing lists for a small fee. And, they plant five trees for every new customer!

Scammers Take Joy Out of Gift Giving

A gift card can be the perfect gift for graduation or any occasion—if you protect yourself from a variety of scams that leave gift card recipients with little more than a colorful piece of plastic.

Before you buy a card, inspect it to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with and that the PIN, if there is one, is still hidden under the protective, scratch-off coating. And beware of using one of the online card exchange services that allow visitors to buy, sell or trade gift cards. The opportunity to pay less than the face value of the card may be tempting, but there have been cases of buyers receiving stolen, expired or counterfeit cards. If you want to buy a gift card online, reduce your risk of hacking by buying only through a secure Web site. Of course, the only way to shop truly risk free is to buy gifts at a store.

ScamBusters offers more information about gift card scams, as well as tips for protecting yourself.

Grilling the Green Way

It’s summertime and that means more cooking outdoors. Reduce your carbon footprint by retiring your old charcoal grill and replacing it with a gas grill. They’re not ideal, but they do burn cleaner. If you stick with charcoal, the Daily Green recommends using all natural charcoal briquettes, which don’t contain additives, or environmentally certified wood briquettes, made from sustainably farmed hardwoods. Use a chimney starter—a tall metal cylinder—to get the fire started with fewer CO2 emissions.

While you’re greening your grill, why don’t you go all the way and use biodegradable plates and utensils when you can’t use the real stuff. And don’t forget to compost the leftovers.

Beware When Contractors Come Calling

When the doorbell rings, it’s not always the Avon lady. Be on the alert for scams involving unscrupulous contractors who come to your home uninvited. In some cases, the unethical contractor does a job for a neighbor and then goes door to door collecting deposits for jobs he never intends to start. In other cases, the dishonest contractor says he’s offering free inspections. Not surprisingly, he finds something seriously wrong with every property he inspects. Then he offers to make the unneeded repairs at what he says is a bargain price because he’s doing a number of homes in the neighborhood.

The safe way to handle home repairs and improvements is to determine what you want to have done and then contact one or more contractors you choose from a list of ethical contractors. The best place to start your contractor search is in the Diamond Certified directory.

Don't Toss That Cork!

Eco-friendly oenophiles will be happy to know that their conservation efforts don’t have to stop at recycling the bottle—wine corks are wanted too. ReCork America has drop-off locations in San Francisco and Napa. The recycled corks can be used for everything from insulation to ping pong paddles.
 
Yemm & Hart, a Missouri recycler, collected 1.5 tons of cork stoppers between 2004 and 2007, converting them to cork tiles. Visit the site to get mailing information for your own donation or to request tile samples.
 
You might think you’re saving the Mediterranean’s cork oak groves by purchasing wine with synthetic or metal closures, but the tree is not killed to obtain its cork bark. In fact, according to Audubon Magazine, the cork oak groves are part-time homes to more than 250 species of birds and still stand since they provide a source of income for the farmers who own them. Non-cork stoppers now threaten that ecosystem.

Asbestos Pros Help Homeowners Breathe Easier

According to the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center, nearly 80% of structures built before 1980 contain some asbestos. The material can become a hazard when asbestos-containing building components such as floor and ceiling tiles, insulation, and drywall are damaged during remodeling or as the result of a fire, flood or earthquake.
 
Avoid asbestos exposure by hiring qualified professionals to remove it or repair the damage. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides information about when asbestos can become a hazard and what homeowners should know about hiring an inspector or contractor. Read the EPA’s advice and then search for a reputable professional in the Diamond Certified directory.

New Life for Old Jeans

One of the hottest “green” building materials on the market today is insulation fabricated from denim scraps leftover from the jeans manufacturing process. Made by Bonded Logic and sold under the brand name UltraTouch, the denim insulation contains over 85% recycled denim and cotton fibers. The material, which is also fire retardant, doesn’t contain any toxins or irritants. And unlike other types of insulation, it doesn’t itch or require any protective clothing during installation. Use of UltraTouch may even qualify you for an energy conservation tax credit.
 
Though old, well-worn jeans aren’t used for the bulk of the denim insulation being produced, Green Jeans Insulation, an UltraTouch distributor in Wisconsin, does accept donated jeans, which they send through the recycling and manufacturing process. What comes out is typically donated for use by nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity. Visit www.GreenJeansInsulation.com/donate for the mailing address and details.

Protecting Your Important Papers

The recent California fires serve as a reminder that a disaster can strike at any time. To avoid losing your important papers if you have to make a quick exit, take the time now to protect them.
 
Rules of thumb for protecting your papers: Have everything in at least two places. And concentrate on duplicating and protecting those items that you would need access to immediately, or that would be difficult or impossible to replace.
 
Keep one set of papers in a lockable, fireproof box at home. It should be lightweight enough that you could easily carry it out of the house if you needed to evacuate. Of course, if your home becomes inaccessible while you’re away, you won’t be able to reach the box. So keep another set of papers off-site, with a friend or relative out of the area, for example.
 
Or use a few tech tools to make back-up and storage even easier. Use a scanner to convert documents to PDFs (electronic files) and then upload them to your personal Web space. Or, copy them onto a USB flash drive that is small enough to fit inside your pocket or on your keychain. Be sure to get one that offers password protection, though, in case you lose it.

Send the Kids Back to School with Green in Their Backpacks

According to the Nielsen Company, parents and students will spend just under $1.6 billion on back-to-school supplies this year. Spending even a portion of that on “green” products would have a meaningful impact on the environment.

When buying paper, check the labels and choose the product with the highest post-consumer waste (PCW) content. (That’s the waste paper from our homes and offices.) Treecycle.com and Green Paper Company are two of the online retailers that make it easier to buy tree-friendly back-to-school supplies.

You’re going to need pens and pencils to go with that paper. Forest Choice #2 cedar pencils are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council “to have originated from environmentally well-managed forests.” Biodegradable cornstarch pens and other green writing tools are available from Green Earth Office Supply.

Once your kids are back in school, encourage them to start their own classroom recycling program.

Lock Out ID Thieves and Hackers

The passwords to your computer and online accounts are like the keys to your safe deposit box. In the wrong hands, they can be used to steal your money and your identity. Strong passwords—those that are virtually impossible to recreate, even using a special decoder program—will keep your assets and information safe and secure.

A strong password is one that appears to be a random string of characters, including letters, numbers and symbols. The longer your password is, the harder it is to decipher—so, a seven-character password is stronger than one that has only five characters, but not as strong as one with 12 characters.

When creating a password, don’t use personal information such as your birth date or dog’s name. And don’t use real words. Do consider creating a password derived from a “passphrase” that is easy for you to remember. For example, “My favorite number is 13” could be converted to MfaV#=13!. And use a different password for each account to avoid having all your accounts at risk if one password is compromised.

Learn more about password dos & don’ts, and how to keep track of your codes, from ConsumerReports.org and Microsoft.com.

Enjoy a (Nearly) Guilt-free Fire

The most eco-friendly way to use a fireplace is to turn it into a showcase for candles, flowers or other décor. If you’re not willing to give up cozy nights by the hearth, do the next best thing by making wood choices that reduce pollutants.

According to Treehugger.com, manufactured logs — Java-Log and the new Duraflame, for example — are a greener alternative to real, cut firewood. That’s because the manufactured logs recycle waste, such as sawdust and coffee grounds, which saves trees. They also use plant-based waxes, which are a renewable source of carbon. And they burn cleaner than cut wood, emitting less particulate matter, carbon monoxide and other pollutants.

If you do burn real wood in your fireplace, make sure it’s dry. “Green,” or damp, logs will release more smoke and carbon. How do you know a log is dry? It’ll make a sharp, hollow sound when you tap it, compared to the dull thump of green wood.

Bad Tile Installation = Homeowner’s Nightmare

If you hire an incompetent contractor to tile your bathroom, you could end up with a big mess. Monica Beverly, owner of Santa Cruz Tile and Stone, a Diamond Certified company, says to re-do a job can cost thousands of dollars more because of all the water damage that may occur.

On a bad install, the shower pan may not be waterproofed, resulting in leaks through walls, floors and ceilings. Tiles might be crooked, not cut correctly, not flat, and not set with the right adhesive. If tiles are installed on an incorrect surface in a kitchen, tiles could start moving and the grout will fall out. To avoid making an expensive mistake, hire a licensed tile contractor with a known track record. Monica specifically recommends asking the bidding company for references from people who had work done a few years ago. A well-done tile job will stand the test of time.

Xeriscape: The Green Way to Garden

Fall is the best time to plant in Northern California, allowing new transplants to benefit from the expected winter rains. But what happens if the rains don’t come? As anyone who’s lived in California for more than a few years knows, the occasional drought is as sure a bet as the rains.

So, the next time you go to the nursery, shop with water conservation in mind, making selections that require little or no watering when established. Two great guides for picking the right plants for your plot are the Sunset Western Garden Book, published by Sunset Books, and the California Gardener’s Guide (Volume II), by Nan Sterman. Nursery staff can also steer you toward drought-tolerant plants.

As the cover of Sterman’s book illustrates, xeriscape — landscaping designed specifically for its ability to resist drought — doesn’t mean giving up lush greenery and flowers.

Let’s Talk Turkey

Deep-fried turkey has won many devotees over recent years. But deep-frying is a potentially hazardous process that can result in burns and fires. To see exactly what can happen when dunking a large bird in a big vat of hot oil, watch the cautionary video posted to YouTube. If that doesn’t dissuade you, at least follow the safety tips offered by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), which tests and certifies products for public safety. (UL has not certified any turkey fryer as safe.)

For a much safer Thanksgiving, go retro and cook your turkey in the oven, just like mom used to do.

Eco-friendly Seafood Choices Save Oceans

Fish may be an important part of a healthy diet, but the way we harvest our seafood can be very bad for the health of our oceans. Some species are over-fished, or caught using methods that kill significant amounts of non-target sea life. In the case of farmed seafood, some aquaculture methods pollute the ocean. The challenge for sushi and seafood lovers is how to know which choices are better for the environment.  
 
To help eco-conscious consumers, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Blue Ocean Institute, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium each have created a “pocket” guide to more sustainable seafood selections. Download one or more of the guides and refer to it the next time you’re trying to decide between bluefin tuna (an environmental no-no) and wild-caught Alaska salmon (a better choice).

Boost Your Credit Score

Financial institutions have tightened their lending criteria, which makes having a good credit score more important than ever. The higher your score, the more likely your request for credit will be approved. And consumers with higher credit scores typically pay lower interest rates.
 
Here are some tips for increasing your score:

• Pay your bills on time.
• Make up any past-due payments.
• Keep the outstanding balance on any credit account at less than 50% of your available credit line.
• Don’t open a lot of new credit accounts in a short period.
• Don’t close older, unused accounts—your credit history will appear shorter and your outstanding debt will increase relative to your available credit.
  

Better Than a Barrel of Monkeys

A rain barrel—used to catch storm runoff from your roof—does wonders for the environment. First, it keeps usable water out of the sewer and water treatment system. It also helps reduce overflow in the sewers. And it reduces the amount of potable water that must be used for things like irrigation and toilet flushing. To begin harvesting useful rainwater, just slide a rain barrel under a shortened downspout from your roof. San Francisco residents can get a deal on a 60-gallon rain barrel through a partnership between Cole Hardware and the Public Utilities Commission. If you prefer the do-it-yourself approach, visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for instructions on building your own rain barrel.

Don't Let Gift Cards Linger

A gift card may seem like the perfect present, but you should know that many carry monthly inactivity or maintenance fees, and some even expire. This is particularly true for bank cards—those that carry the Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express logo and can be used at any establishment that accepts those brands. Bank card maintenance fees typically range from about one dollar to as much as five dollars per month and can start as soon as six months after purchase. Expiration dates range from about six months to about 42 months, at which time you’ll have to request a new card or a refund by check—and there are fees for those!

The consumer protection office of Montgomery County, Maryland, publishes an annual gift card report that includes information about fees, policies and expiration dates on many popular gift cards. You can also contact the issuer for information about your particular gift card.

Special Handling Required for Spent CFLs

You can’t go wrong replacing your old, incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). A CFL, which looks like a glass corkscrew or spring, lasts longer than a standard bulb, conserves energy and, ultimately, saves you money. But CFLs do require special handling when they burn out.

To avoid releasing toxic mercury into the environment, don’t toss CFLs into the household trash — recycle them. Home Depot and Ikea both offer free in-store recycling. If you don’t live near either business, visit Earth911.org to find a recycling location near you.

A broken CFL also requires special handling. Visit the EPA online for tips on safe cleanup and disposal.

Emergency Preparedness Kit for Your Car

As a San Francisco Bay Area resident, you’re probably well prepared for an earthquake. But how prepared are you to deal with an emergency on the road? Consumer Reports recommends drivers outfit their vehicles with the following items:

• Cell phone
• Hazard triangles or flares
• Jumper cables
• Flashlight
• Roadside-assistance membership
• Tow-rope
• Duct tape (for emergency repairs)
• Small shovel and a bag of sand (to get traction if your tires are spinning)
• Windshield scraper, blanket, and hand warmers (particularly necessary if you drive to snow country)

Based on decades of driving, we’d add water, old tennis shoes, a rain slicker, and a first aid kit.

What’s in your emergency car kit? Email us your suggestions, and we’ll share some of them in the next issue of the Diamond Certified Consumer Report.