Whole Chicken or a roast is the very best buy for any family. Bake a chicken; serve the drumsticks, wings, and thighs first. Save the Breast for sandwiches and the back for soup. A roast, cook until tender and serve it as a roast the first night, next night tacos, next night maybe burritos, or hash. You will find that you not only have wonderful meals but also saving a lot of money, and your family will love your creativeness.

Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 or more for 411 / information calls when they don't have to.
When you need to use the 411 / information option, simply dial 1 800 FREE 411 or
1 800 373 3411, without incurring a charge at all except for the minutes required to make the call.
- JWD -

Everyone is familiar with the problem of opening a previously opened paint can that has been stored for a long period. A film forms on the top, which must be removed before use. If shaken without removing this film, the paint will contain fragments of that film. To prevent this, after closing the first time the paint is used, leave the can out where you will pass it daily. When passing, shake the can thoroughly. Do this for about five days, and then place in storage. This enables the oxygen to be absorbed uniformly through the paint, instead on the top surface. This works well until the can gets less than one-third full, which thereafter requires shaking the contents for more days.

When considering a student for financial aid, the federal formula expects the student to contribute 50% of the student’s income (minus the income protection allowance), and 35% of the student’s assets during his/her base year. Given this, the family should spend down the student’s money first. For example, instead of buying the student a car or a computer while he/she is in college, have the student buy it out of their own funds during the base year before you apply for FAFSA. This may increase the student's eligibility for aid and reduce the family's out-of-pocket costs.