PAGE 2 • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2011 • FALL CAR CARE

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Living with today'seconomy can be achallenge. Prices go upbut paychecks often staythe same; making endsmeet can be tough. Oneway to confront thisproblem is with math.You may consider mathanother four-letter word.However, betterunderstanding whereyour hard-earned moneyis going can help youkeep your finances inline...and that takessimple math.

One cost that fluctuatesa great deal is the costof gasoline. One weekit's high and the nextweek it's probablyhigher. If you know themileage your vehicle isgetting, however, youmight be able to makeadjustments and save afew bucks.

Like keeping your homeclean, vigilance is thekey. Clean out your caronce a week. If youspend any time in yourcar you are going toaccumulate "stuff" duringthe course of a week. Tokeep these items fromtaking over the interior,you can throw themaway, organize them inthe car or move them outof the car.

Although manufacturersindicate a vehicle'scity/highway MPG (milesper gallon), thosenumbers will fluctuatebased on the driver anddriving conditions. Sohow do you accuratelyfigure the mileage youare getting with yourvehicle? First, prepare a

worksheet to recorddata; you can use anotebook or a computer-generated spreadsheet.Whichever you choose,make sure you have acolumn for each of thefollowing: Date (on whichyou purchase gas),Odometer Reading,Miles Traveled, Gallonsand MPG (Miles PerGallon). (For budgetingpurposes, you may wantto keep a record ofAmount you spent forgas also.)

Now head to the gasstation and fill up yourtank. Be sure to use thelock on the nozzlehandle so that the pumpshuts off automaticallywhen the tank is full. Donot top off the tank.Before you leave the gasstation, record the dateand the odometerreading and set your tripmeter.

The next step iseasy...just drive. Whenyour fuel gauge registersabout a quarter of atank, head back to thegas station and fill upagain. This time, recordboth your OdometerReading and the numberof Gallons (found on thepump) used to fill upyour vehicle.

You can find MilesTraveled in two ways.You can look at your tripmeter (if it hasn't beenaccidentally reset) or youcan subtract your currentodometer reading fromthe original reading youlogged on yourworksheet. For example,if your first odometer

reading was 46,526 andyour current reading is46,852, you havetraveled (46,852 minus46,526) 326 miles.

Next divide the miles youhave traveled by thenumber of gallons of gasyou just used-let's say15.2, 326 divided by15.2-and you'll have yourmiles per gallon. In thiscase, your MPG is 21.4.However, this reading isaccurate for only thistank of gas. You willwant to average severalfill-ups to get anaccurate idea of yourvehicle's MPG.Averaging is easy; justadd your miles pergallon notations anddivide by the number ofnotations listed. Forexample, if you haverecorded four MPGfigures on your sheet,21.4, 20.8, 22.7, 19.7,add them all together for84.6. Now divide thatnumber by four and youhave your average, 21.2miles per gallon.

So, what do you do withthose numbers? See ifyou can improve yourgas mileage. How? Thefirst thing is byperforming simplemaintenance. Are thetires properly inflated?Do you have the oilchanged regularly? Isthe air filter clean? Nextconsider your drivinghabits. Do you let yourvehicle idle for longperiods of time? Do youoften drive in stop-and-go traffic? Are you a"speed demon"? Do youstart quickly and stopsuddenly?

Making adjustments andthen checking your MPGwill let you know howmuch you are saving atthe pump. The processwill take minimal time,but once you get thehang of it, you might findit fun. Imagine that,saving money whilehaving fun with math.

FALL CAR CARE • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2011 • PAGE 3

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There are many peoplein life who are valuableto us: a loving spouse,children, extendedfamily-and a mechanicyou can trust. Becausemany of us know verylittle about car repair, weneed a trustworthymechanic. Many automechanics aren't

deceptive; they're justuntrained or ignorant ofcertain kinds of repair.Here are a fewsuggestions to avoid anauto repair regret orrip-off.

'I know a guy...' This isthe best place to start.Talk to your friends,family and coworkers.Which repair shop dothey use? How longhave they been goingthere? Would theyrecommend them? Onceyou have decided on ashop, contact the BetterBusiness Bureau (BBB)to find out if anycomplaints have beenfiled against it.

If you are satisfied withwhat you find, take your

car in. Be as specific aspossible whendescribing the problem;they can't help if theydon't know what's wrong.At this point it is a goodidea to ask if the shop'smechanics are ASE(AutomotiveServiceExcellence)certified. Keepin mind thatmechanics canbe ASEcertified in manydifferent areas,such asbrakes,engines,electricalsystems, etc.,so if you have aproblem with yourbrakes, a mechaniccertified in engines maybe underqualified to fixyour problem.

Next, make it clear thatyou want to be contactedBEFORE ANY WORKBEGINS. Most shopsare good about this, butit never hurts to remindthem. Also state that ifanything needs to bereplaced, you want theold part. This may stop arip-off before it starts. Adishonest mechanic isless likely to needlesslyreplace something if

you'regoing to seethe replaced part.

When you find out thediagnosis, take notes.Have the mechanicexplain everything to youin terms you canunderstand. Ask whetherthe repairs arenecessary or onlyrecommended and thentell them you'll get backto them about doing therepair.

Now it's time to use yourbest anti-rip-off tool-theInternet. Do someresearch; use a searchengine and find out if

what they toldyou is accurate. You caneven find parts pricesonline and figure out ifthey are charging youfairly (be aware that amarkup price is standardbusiness procedure).You could also contact afew other local shopsand get their price fordoing the same repair.If your investigationproves the repairs arelegitimate and at areasonable price, give

them the OK toproceed. When you pickup your car, go over theinvoice carefully withthem and make sure allcharges are explained.Also verify in writing anyguarantees that comewith their work.

We all want to hiresomeone we can trust,and most mechanics aretrustworthy. Once you dofind 'your' mechanic,you'll also be able to say,'I've got a guy... .'

PAGE 4 • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2011 • FALL CAR CARE

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PAGE 2 • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2011 • HOME IMPROVEMENT

The sofa in yoursunroom has definitelyseen better days. Thecushions sag, the fabricis stained and the pillowsare torn. The time hascome to throw it out,right? Maybe, but thenagain, maybe not. Takea good look at that sofa.Is the construction solid?If so, then having itreupholstered might bethe more cost-effectivesolution.

Before you start lookingfor fabric, inspect yoursofa carefully. Is theframe sturdy? Is it free ofrot, mildew and othersigns of water damage?Are the springs in goodcondition? If so, it mightbe worth saving andmake a good candidatefor reupholstering.

If you have noexperience in reuphol-stering, you will probablywant to hire someone to

do the job for you. Lookfor an upholsterer justlike you would any otherprofessional. Getrecommendations fromfriends and family,conduct interviews andask to see a sample oftheir work. Check outreferences, comparepricing and choose theone that works bestfor you.

Once you have found anupholsterer, have themcheck out your sofa andmake sure it is suitablefor reupholstering. If theygive you the go-ahead,you may start the searchfor fabric. Depending

upon shape of the pieceand your tastes, youmay have your sofareupholstered in one ormore fabrics. Check withyour upholsterer. Theymay have somesuggestions andperhaps even somesamples to show you. Ifnot, shop at stores thatsell upholstery fabric andselect several suitablefor your décor that willhold up to wear and tearand resist stains. Keepin mind that the moretexture in the fabric, thebetter it will hide stains.

You will needseveral yards of fabric,20 or more, so payattention to the price peryard. Ask for samples ofthe fabrics you choose.That way, you can seehow they will look in yoursunroom at various

times of the day. Onceyou have selected fabric,speak to your

upholsterer. They maybe able to order it for youat a discount. If theycan't, they should beable to tell you howmuch to purchase.

Once you have selectedfabric, take a sample of itto your upholsterer andgo over the details withthem. Determine howyou want the fabric torun on your sofa,whether you want weltand what, if any extras,you would like to haveon your sofa. Make sureyou and your upholstererare on the same page.

Having your sofareupholstered will taketime, but it might be lessexpensive to go thatroute than to buy a newsofa. Find out all of thedetails and then makeyour decision.

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Most people familiar withinterior design know thevalue of mirrors. Whenplaced right, they canmake a room appearlarger and lighter than itreally is. A mirror placedacross from a window ina small, narrow room, forexample, can open it up.Mirrors can be used inother ways to play up thefeatures of a room.

Designers employ allkinds of techniques withmirrors. Sometimes, theyangle mirrors towardeach to break up thereflection and allow for aunique mosaic affect.Other times, theyarrange them in a

specific order for acomforting repetitiouseffect.

The size and shape ofmirrors might dictatetheir use. An assortmentof round mirrors invarious sizes on a wallmight make for quite animpressive display,whereas a series of long,narrow mirrors on a wallmight elongate it. Whenturned horizontally, thosesame long, narrowmirrors might make thewall appear wider.

Mirrors can be used todisguise flaws andhighlight objects as well.Dresser top scratched?

No problem. Have apiece of mirror cut to fitit, and voila, you've got agreat place to store all ofthose crystal perfumebottles. The mirrored topwill reflect light onto thecrystal, creating adazzling effect.Bookshelves seem alittle drab? Not withmirrored backs. Hang orglue some mirrors to thebacks of yourbookshelves for depthand whatever you havetucked inside will comealive.

Mirrors do not have to benew or in perfectcondition to create aninteresting effect.

Distressed mirrors workgreat in many designstyles from Old World tocountry cottage, whileconvex mirrors can addinterest to more modernrooms.

Mirrors can do wondersfor any décor. Justmake sure you use themappropriately.Remember, mirrorsreflect, so be careful oftheir placement. Don'thang one across fromsomething you'd ratherpeople not notice, likethe litterbox or coatcloset. Watch out forglare as well. While amirror placed acrossfrom your picture window

might bounce back a lotof light, it might also

create glare on the TVscreen.

HOME IMPROVEMENT • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2011 • PAGE 3

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

You love the look andfeel of fireplaces, butyou've never had theprivilege of owning ahome with one.Fortunately for you,there are several modelsnow on the market thatcan be installed easily.

When shopping for afireplace, you mustdetermine first where itwill go and what youwant from it. If you'relooking for a fireplacethat puts out heat, youmust find one that fitsthe size of the room. Toosmall of one won't putout enough heat, whiletoo big of one willoverheat the room.

There are two type of

gas fireplaces that canbe installed easily:direct-vent and no-vent.Direct-vent fireplaces areself-contained andrequire no foundation.They are vented out ofthe nearest sidewall.Vent-free fireplacesrequire no venting andput out a huge amount ofheat, making them moresuitable for large spaces.They also produce a lotof moisture. Both requirea source of natural gasor propane.

If you would prefer not tobother with a fuelsource, you may look atelectric fireplaces. Thesedo not burn, but they doprovide the illusion ofcrackling flames. Some

models also come withspace heaters to helpheat the room.

If these options do notappeal to you and youprefer a traditionalfireplace, you may check

into having one installed.This will be easier if youare adding on to yourhome, of course. Eitherway, it will cost you, andyou will have todetermine whether youwant a gas or a wood

fireplace. Gas burnscleaner. Wood,however, is moreauthentic and produces

a sweet scent and acrackling sound.

Want a fireplace in yourhome? Have one! Justmake sure you do yourhomework and select theright type for your needs.

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Your home is great, butwith the kids getting older,you feel like you arestarting to get crampedand could use a little moreroom. An addition is out ofthe question. Why notextend your home with aroom outdoors?

Outdoor rooms are all therage these days andcreating one is not asdifficult as you might think.You can set up one inalmost any site from a

screened-in porch to adeck to a gazebo to apatch of grass in yourlandscape. When creatinga room, you should startinside your house. Lookout onto your yard andselect an area that couldserve as a naturalextension of your home,preferably one with easyaccess to and from yourhome.

Determine how theoutdoor room will function.

Do you plan to hang outthere with friends andchat? Do you plan to relaxin a hammock and watchtelevision there? Do youplan to play games orexercise there? Whateveryou intend to do, youroutdoor room will need toaccommodate that.Multiple functions mightcall for multiple pieces offurniture or equipment,which might call for alarger space.

You should design theoutdoor room around itsfunctions. If you plan tochat there with friends,you will need comfortablechairs for everyone to siton. If you plan to lie in thehammock and watchtelevision there, you willneed a hammock and atelevision. If you plan toplay games or exercisethere, you will need a cardtable and chairs or someexercise equipment.

You will also need sometype of flooring, whether aconcrete slab, pavers orbrick. If possible, use thesame flooring outside asinside. This will helpcreate continuity. Addsome rugs underfoot andsome accessories, andyou will have a greatoutdoor space. Just makesure the items areweather resistant, unlessthe room is sheltered.

If you plan to use theoutdoor room in cooltemperatures, you willneed a source of heat.Fireplaces and fire pitsare ideal. Depending uponyour needs, budget andpreferences, you mayhave one installed or buyone ready made.Chimneas, for example,are relatively inexpensiveand require no installation.

If you don't have a lot ofvegetation already, youwill want to add some. Forprivacy, twine vines andother climbers on trellisesor fences. Fill somecontainers with plants.Install some beds. Hangup some planters.

It doesn't take much tocreate an outdoor room.You can set up one fairlyeasily and add to it as yousee fit. Like the roomsinside, your outdoor roomwill evolve over time andbecome a crucial part ofyour home.

PAGE 4 • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2011 • HOME IMPROVEMENT

Extend Your Home Outdoors

Wrapped InBeadboard

You love your house, butboy, oh boy, could thepowder room use somework. The fixtures arenice...the walls, not somuch. There are tons ofnicks and scrapes on thelower half, probably dueto the removal of layersupon layers of wallpaperlong ago. You couldinstall new drywall, butyou'd rather not. Why notcover it instead withbeadboard?

Installing beadboard is arather simple process.First you need to dosome shopping andselect the rightbeadboard for yourneeds. Beadboardcomes in a variety ofstyles from tongue-and-groove boards toplywood sheets to fauxbeadboard. You can buyit finished or unfinishedand stain or paint it

yourself. Once you havebought the beadboard,you will need to bring itinside and give it a fewdays to get acclimated.This will ensure it goesup smoothly.

When you are ready toinstall the beadboard,remove the baseboardsand paint the top half ofthe walls if needed. Thenpencil in a level lineacross the wall andmeasure for the firstpiece. You may cut thebeadboard to size with acircular saw. To install it,apply some constructionadhesive to the back, putit into place on the walland secure it in thecorners and along theedges with nails.Continue with theprocess around theroom, making sure youleave 1/16th gapbetween sections forexpansion. For areasaround pipes, you mayuse a drill with a hole-saw attachment to cutthe beadboard.

After you have finished,you will need to cap offthe beadboard andreplace the baseboards.To cap it off, you mayinstall a chair railing.When you are done withthat, use some caulk tofill in all of the holes.Then stain or paint thebeadboard, baseboardsand chair railing, andvoila, your bathroom isas good as new.

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