Spilyay Tymoo
December 11, 1981 Page 9
Family Lifelines—
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If you think about it, families
are the basis our world is built
on. People make families,
families make communities,
com m unities make states,
states make countries, and
countries make our world.
It only follows that the
e x p e rie n c e s le a rn e d by
members within a family help
build the type world we live in.
Each and everyone of us, no
matter how small and helpers
we feel, can help the chain
along in a positive direction
through good family communi
cations and understanding
between family members.
This is the first of a
continuing series of articles and
thoughts on building positive
family member understanding
family member understanding,
communications, and interac
tion.
Let Teens in On family finance
So your teenager wants to
buy a motorcycle, but the
money is needed to help replace
the washing maching that’s on
its last legs.
M oney can to u c h off
conflicts between teens and
parents, but parents can help
the situation by letting the teen
in on the family’s financial
p la n n in g . Y oung people
probably won’t be interested in
every detail, but they should
understand all the expenses
that the family income has to
cover. If the teen is included in
the family decision to fix up the
old car rather than buy anew
one, he or she may learn the
valuable lesson that taking care
of things saves money. Plus he
may see that a new motorcycle
is out of the question because of
the family car repairs unless he
earns the money for the
motorcycle himself.
Take the teenager along
when you shop for a major
househoud item that will affect
him or her directly, such as a
popcorn popper the teen will be
likely to use. That way he or she
will learn about comparision
shopping.
Teenagers also need to be
involved in family financial
decisions. Whether they earn
their own money or receive an
allowance, it’s good money
management experience for
them to have money that they
determine how to spend and
save.
Beating
the
cash crunch
Cash, bread, plastic money,
checks; there are many names
for the money that has to be
spend daily to live. Amounts of
money available are shrinking,
ind on top of that a dollar is
not worth what it used to be!
Although the outlook is not
good now and everyone will
have to “ tighten up on
spending,” there are still ways
to spend money wisely and to
plan for and afford necessities
and a few luxuries.
This is the first of a
continuing series of articles and
tips on smart shopping, family
budget planning, and ways to
make money buy more for you.
from Rennie Albrandt
and Clint Jacks
A
g if t
of
tim e
Gift-giving can be frustrating learning to cook. Instead of a
when it comes to finding an potted plant, your grandparent
item that suits your special may enjoy a couple of da vs out
shopping with you or perhaps
person—and is affordable.
A creative alternative to high your mending talents, while
prices, endless searching, and you share togetherness. Your
long check-out lines might be a imagination will give vou other
gift of time, which you could suggestions for gifts tailored
promise to your special person. to those for whom you care.
Bring back the joy and
This will free you from
spending cash and let you plan m e a n in g to g iv in g by
a surprise that will really be presenting a gift of time. Make
appreciated when you “I.O.U.” your own fancy I.O.U. gift
certificates and be sure to
is cashed.
The promise of a half-day o follow through on them at a
bread baking might be an c o n v e n ie n t tim e fo r the
excellent gift for a friend receiver.
Christm as gift-givingrequires special attention
Appliances
Always popular gifts at
Christmas time, appliances can
be a good or bad gift choice. If
considering apliances as gift
items this year, first off think of
the person you are buying for
a n d a sk y o u r s e lf th e se
questions:
—Does the person you are
buying for need the appliance?
Does he/she already own the
appliance? does he/ she already
have an appliance that does the
same job as your gift?
—How much energy does the
appliance use?
—How much storage spare will
the appliance take up and does
the person have room for it?
—Will the appliance be used?
If the answers to the above
questions are yes then your
search for an appliance should
be guided by the following tips:
—Look for good used larger
appliances such as washers and
dryers or freezers.
—Shop around at various
appliance outlets, discount
stores, and through catalogs
and look at different models,
features, quality and prices.
Compare all of these carefully;
many times you will pay for
unneeded features. Prices
always vary from store to sto re,.
—Watch for sales after you
have decided on the appliance
you have chosen to give.
—Ask seller about warranty
c o n te n t and len g th and
consider this when comparing
prices and features.
—Also, check if service on any
type appliance is available
through a reliable source in
your area.
—Save all sales receipts on
purchases in the event of
appliance failure or duplication
of gifts.
Generally, take your time
shopping around; this can
make the difference between a
good useful appliance or a
piece of junk that will take up
space.
Clothing
To get the most from the
money you spend on clothing
fo r g ifts th is C h ristm a s
consider the following tips on
shopping for quality, at sales,
and whether to sew clothing or
not:
—Think about the person you
are buying for and make sure
the clothing you buy them will
fit their lifestyle
— C o n s id e r w h e th e r th e
garment will be expensive to
keep up, does it have to be dry
cleaned, etc. Reading care
labels inside clothing will help
you with your choice.
—Check -fabric quality and
w o 'rk m a n s h ip w ith th e
following checklist:
1. Will the fabric texture shag
easily?
A.
2. Does the fabric wrinkle
permanently when a portion of
it is crushed inside your fist?
3. If you hold the fabric up to a
light can you easily see light
between the threads? (The
closer the threads are woven
next to each other, the better
the quality of fabric.)
4. Watch when reading care
labels to see if the fabric will
shrink or if the fabric color will
run. (Ask the salesperson if you
can’t find it on the care label)
5. Seams should be at least !4
inch wide and preferable !4
wide with a good seam finish.
6. Is button hole stitching
heavy enough to bind off fabric
around the buttonhole?
7. Are there fabrics inside
collars, cuffs and shirt fronts to
make fabric desirable and
buttonholes stronger?
9. Are there strings hanging
from garment? This is usually a
sign of poor quality. If you still
want to purchase the garment,
cut off these strings; don’t pull
them off or this may damage
the garment or buttons may fall
off.
10. Hems should be at least 1
inch and sewn in so they don’t
show on the ouside of the
garment.
11. Watch for pre-Christmas
sales, but shop around first
before buying. Many times sale
prices in one store maybe
higher than normal prices in
other stores.
12. Compare prices, fabric
type, and garment features
between catalogs, local stores,
discount stores, larger city
stores, and local newspaper
sale ads. Also, consider gas and
time incolved in traveling to the
lowest price items.
13. Save all sales, receipts so
that clothing that doesn’t fit
right can be returned or,.
e x c h a n g e d f o r a n o t h e r that the toy represents that
makes them want the toy.
garment.
—At sales always know current —Check out toys your child is
clothing prices before you buy interested in for the following
to really know a bargain when before you buy them:
1. Are there small parts in the
you see one.
—In many cases it pays to sew toy that can cut, or break off
some clothing or fabric gifts, and be swallowed?
but consider the following.
2. Will the toy,shatter easily so
1. Do you have the time to sew that a child might be cut. Also
the toy won’t give enjoyment
items in time for Christmas?
2. Fabric and notions bought for long if it breaks easily.
for home sewn items needs to 3. Make sure toys are painted
be low enough prices so that it with non-toxic paints; other
cheaper to sew the garment paints can contain lead that
than to buy it. This depends or may cause poisoning from lead
your personnel situation. Do to a child.
you have lots of time and not 4. Check for wires, decorations
much money? Do you have a that can stick, poke or cut a
lot of supplies on hand?
child.
8. The type of garment sewn 5. A great hazzard is propelled
will determine whether you toys or toys th a t shoot
save money or not. Usually projectiles or missies at high
long term clothing such as speeds, Projectiles can cause
coats, jackets, rather than serious injury at close range.
current style blouses, pants,
and jumpsuits will be the best 6. Electrical toys such as small
investment of time and monev ovens, toasters, irons and other
invested in sewing. Usually toys that heat up can also be
most all clothing that is home dangerous.
sewn will be of a better quality 7. Climbing equipment and
than store-bought. It might be other free-standing toys should
wisest to invest sewing time and be checked for “tip-over”
money in garments that will not possibilities.
soon go out of style and that are 8. Take time to check age
high quality materials. Other recommendations for different
garments wore only during the type toys before you buy.
period they are in style might be 9. Check toys received from
best bought as cheaply as other relatives and friends to
possible.
make sure they are safe and
9. Last of all do you have a spend some time with your
sewing machine and do you child and help them learn to use
enjoy sewing?
toys received safely.
—When shopping for toys you
Toys
Since Christmas is a most will find that prices vary greatly
special time for children, toys sale ads in the newspaper, shop
Shop around first, watch tor
are one of the most frequent
items on Christmas shopping sale ads in the news paper, shop
lists. Follow these tips to buy before and after Christmas
safe, affordable toys that when sales are more common
children will play with longer and again save sales receipts so
you can return defective or
than Christmas morning:
—Toy advertizing encourages duplicate toys.
c h ild re n to w ant th in g s — Consider m aking some
impulsively, so it’s good to talk hom em ad e to y s. S everal
with your children and really publications with instructions
find out what toys they really for making toys are available
free at the Extension Service
want.
1. What is your favorite T.V. Office by calling 553-1161 ext.
238. The publications will be
toy?
delivered to you.
2. Why do you like it?
3. Ask them if it is the music, Have a safe, happy and
action, or a famous personality economical Christmas!!