On the Wire - Many Happy Returns
You'd prefer not to have to, but we all know it happens. You get a gift you wish you didn’t, and have to face the post-holiday return runaround. So what are the ground rules? Do you really need that sales slip? How long can you wait? According to Consumer Reports Holiday Giving Guide, yes, it is important to hang onto that sales slip. But even without it, you can often succeed in returning goods even if you don't play strictly by the rest of the rules. Remain polite, and don't assume that the first "no" you hear is the final word, since people in the same store sometimes provide contradictory information about return policies.
To maximize the chance of a successful return avoid cutting off any tags or discarding any packaging as long as there's any chance an item will have to go back. Many companies have a stated return policy ranging from seven to 90 days, while others set no deadline at all. Apparel merchants, department and discount stores and catalogs tend to offer the longest grace periods, while electronics and appliance chains have the shortest return periods, along with tough rules on opened packages and restocking fees. However, with persistence and politeness, it's often possible to make a return even after the deadline. Some online and mail-order companies will even pay the shipping costs associated with a return, since they know buyers can't examine merchandise until after they've bought it.
Check out www.ConsumerReports.org for more!
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Ask Tom & Leslie - Organized Holiday
The holidays are here, and I am in desperate need of a way to stay organized! I have coupons overflowing in my purse, gift ideas scribbled on scraps of paper on the fridge and even lost a party invitation for one of my daughters recently. Do you have any solutions that won’t cost me a fortune?
It’s easy to be overwhelmed this time of year. One of the things we have done in my family is to create a holiday binder. The idea came from the organization experts at Wilson Jones. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Purchase the appropriate supplies, such as a binder, easy to use tabs, plastic sleeves and laminating sheets.
- Gather all relevant holiday focused items, such as recipes and invitations.
- Store all materials in their corresponding binder sleeves with clearly labeled tabs for easy identification.
- If materials are loosely stored in the binder, laminate them for long-term preservation.
- Check off items on your to-do and shopping lists as you complete them.
- When the holiday is over, file the binder away to use as a handy reference for next year.
Once you get the binder together, here are recommendations on categories for the various sections: To-Do List/Calendar, Gift Lists/Receipts, Holiday Cards, Crafts/Decorations and Menu/Party Planning. Miscellaneous materials can be conveniently stored in the front and back binder sleeves.
Wilson Jones has a bunch of organizational tools that can help. This can also be a great family project. You can have the kids create a new cover that marks the year or download a free template at www.wilsonjones.com.
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Got A Question About Your Money Pit?
You can do-it-yourself but you don't have to do-it-alone. Getting in touch with us is as easy as 1 - 2 or 3!
- The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.moneypit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
- Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. We’ll get back to you with the answer – or even call you back during the show!
- Click here to email your question to us. We may read your email on the air and we also respond personally to many of the email questions we get.
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On the Air - Last Minute Gifts
If you’re waiting until the last minute, you’re either procrastinating or aren’t quite sure what to get for your holiday gifts. Why not shop Money Pit? Play Santa to your favorite DIYer at www.MoneyPit.com. NEW for this holiday season, you can purchase home improvement themed gifts including apparel, décor items, accessories and even toys. There’s free shipping for orders of $50 or more. Surprise someone on your honey-do list with an “I Love My Money Pit” shirt or a coffee mug that says, “I came, I sawed, I conquered”. Are you “All Truss, No Fuss”? Or do you “Love Power Tools”? Shop for yourself, shop for a loved one… if it has to do with your Money Pit, you will find it in our extensive selection of humor gear and logo gifts online at www.MoneyPit.com.
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Dot Common Sense - Pampered Pets
Don’t forget about pleasing your pet this holiday season… get in on the next big pet trend, now! Pet furniture, yes actual miniature furniture – chairs, sofas, beds you name it – is hot. Get your pooch off YOUR couch and onto his very own! Even high-end designers are getting in on the trend. Goodwin and Company, the unique design firm famous for producing Slipper Chairs for high end fashion and interior designers, is now featuring furniture made specifically for dogs. Experts say this trend will bring pet beds out into formal living areas instead of a back hall, making pets a real part of the family. Visit www.slipperchairs.com for more info.
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Fun Fact - Santa Saves Energy
If you’re Santa – you’re spending a lot of money keeping the workshop and all those elves warm in the bitterly cold North Pole. Keeping an average five thousand square foot workshop heated would run Santa about $8,000 a year! When you’re trying to keep YOUR home warm and comfortable, saving energy can be difficult. Many Americans turn to space heaters, and that accounts for nearly half (48%) of the energy used in American homes. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are making sure Santa and YOU keep home heating efficient with winter tips for being safe while saving energy in the home:
- Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable, about 68°F when the house is occupied and 60°F at night. Programmable thermostats can do this automatically and easily. They are inexpensive, reliable and easy to install.
- Turn off all fans as soon as they have done the job, as your kitchen or bath fan can pull out a houseful of heated air in just one hour. Consider installing a timer switch instead of a manual switch to limit the unnecessary operation of an exhaust fan.
- Keep or maintain a three-foot clearance between all heating equipment and anything that can burn.
- You can turn down the thermostat in rooms that have all of the following: are unoccupied and can be closed off (closed doors) from the rest of the house and have their own heating zone.
- Portable space heaters should be turned off every time you leave the room or go to bed.
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Copyright 2006 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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