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This is not the first time in this column that we've visited the subject of how to get out of the supermar- ket with at least some money left in your bank ac- count. Still, who doesn't need an occasional reminder — a mental tune-up — to re- main vigilant and ra- zor-sharp when it comes to making our food dol- lars stretch until they scream. Don't go in hungry. You believe that you can sim- ply dash in to pick up the infamous few things. But if you're starving, you're a dead aim for a couple of steaks and a load of snacks. You know what I'm talk- ing about. This is because of Rule No. 1: Anything can happen when you are hungry. Don't try to remem- ber. Sure, playing Brain Age on your kid's Game Boy has revitalized your dead brain cells, render- ing you the mental acuity of a youngster — but don't push it. Without a list of the ex- act items you've come to purchase, who knows what could happen? It's normal for our brains to slip into neutral in the face of fabu- lous food. A written list is the crutch you need desper- ately to make sure you do not slip and fall, so to speak. Don't take your plas- tic or checkbook. Cash — currency, clams, fold- ing money, smackers, greenbacks — this is how you should be paying for your supermarket pur- chases. What? Not convenient, you say? Well, of course not, silly. That's the point. Convenience is the reason you've been dropping the equivalent of a mortgage payment for food every month. Mak- ing the process a bit less convenient is an easy to way to slow that mindless drain on your in- come. Don't grab a shopping cart. Most of them have wobbly wheels anyway, so just walk on by when all you need are those few items. Surely you can carry the "few things" you need. Or get one of the hand- held baskets. The point here is that you won't be buying more than you can carry. Don't dawdle. This is not the place you want to hang out just to soak in all the great sights and smells from the bakery, deli and rotisserie chickens. If you weren't hungry when you arrived, you will be soon. Get what you need, and get out of there. For every 10 min- utes you delay, plan on spending about another $30. Don't deprive yourself. Work some "flex spend" into your budget. We all want to try new things, and in the candy land of choice known as the gro- cery store, this can lead to expensive last-minute choices. In my experience, the best way to combat this is not to fight it. Decid- ing to allow yourself a lit- tle flexibility — say, a $5 allowance or a single im- pulse item each week. That's the way to avoid the feeling that you're drowning in deprivation. You'll be less likely to go overboard. Wouldyouliketosend a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@eve- rydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheap- skate, P.O. Box 2099, Cy- press, CA 90630. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE 6waystogetoutofamarket without overspending Mary Hunt CHICO California State Un iver sit y, C hic o's School of the Arts Pro- ductions invites campus and community members to a special presentation featuring music industry icon and CSU alum Kevin Lyman at 5 p.m. Thurs- day, Dec. 4, in Perform- ing Arts Center Room 134. During the event, De- partment of Music and Theatre professor Anita Rivas Gisborne will in- terview Lyman about his career as one of the most highly respected entrepre- neurs in the music busi- ness. A constant innovator, Lyman is best known as the producer and creator of the extremely success- ful Vans Warped Tour, the longest-running traveling music festival in the world today. Celebrating its 20th an- niversary this year, the tour has played to more than 9 million fans and has helped launch such artists as Green Day, Blink 182, Ice-T, Eminem, Katy Perry, the Offspring, Black Eyed Peas and No Doubt. The subject of dozens of documentary films and books, Lyman has been featured on the cover of Billboard magazine and is frequently featured in mu- sic industry trade publica- tions as an expert in his field. Lyman also has his hand in the record indus- try as co-owner of Side One Dummy Records, which has released al- bums from Anti-Flag, Flogging Molly, Goldfin- ger, The Casualties, The Gaslight Anthem and We Are the Ocean. He holds a degree in recreation administra- tion from California State Polytechnic University, Po- mona. Lyman will take ques- tions from the audience at 5:45 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more informa- tion, contact Maegan Webster, SOTA Pro - duc t ions public re - lations d irec t or, at c s uc h ic o s o t apr e s s@ gmail.com. LECTURE CSU,Chicotopresentmusicindustryicon Pacific Gas and Electric Co. reminds customers that while holiday lighting truly adds to the season, it can also significantly increase the potential for fire risk, injury and electric shock if the proper precautions aren't followed while dec- orating. Adding to possible safety risks, older, non-energy-ef- ficient lighting can severely impact customers' power bills. "We're asking our cus- tomers to please be safe while trimming the tree and decking the halls over the next few weeks," said Laurie Giammona, PG&E's chief customer officer. "Brightening our commu- nities with holiday lights is a great tradition, but we need everyone to be aware of their surroundings to avoid electric hazards and to prevent fires. Our safety tips are simple to follow and help make sure every- one has a safe and joyful holiday." To ensure that custom- ers remain safe through- out the holiday, PG&E of- fers the following safety tips that customers can use as they decorate for the season: UseLEDholiday lights Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lights consume 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lights, help- ing customers save money on their power bills during the holiday season. LED lights produce al- most no heat, making them safe to touch and greatly reducing the risk of fire. LED lights are also break resistant and shock resistant. Avoid electric hazards Look up and live. Be- fore climbing ladders to string outdoor lights, check for overhead power lines nearby. Be especially aware of lines over your roof and lines attached to your home. Look up before raising ladders and other tall objects. Keep at least 10 feet away from overhead lines at all times. Never place yourself or any object such as a string of lights in a position that risks contact with a power line—the result can be fa- tal. Before stringing lights on outdoor trees, make sure tree limbs haven't grown into or near power lines. Branches, entire trees and even the ground adjacent to a tree can be- come energized when trees contact power lines. Prevent fire hazards Avoid overloading exten- sion cords and wall sockets by follow the manufactur- er's limits for the number of light strings that can be safely connected together. Check all light strands for cracked or broken plugs, frayed insulation or bare wires. Worn cords can cause fires, so discard dam- aged sets of lights. Don't place cords under rugs, furniture or other ap- pliances. If covered, cords can overheat or become frayed, increasing the risk of fire. Always turn off deco- rative lights—indoors and outdoors—when leaving the house and before go- ing to bed. Do not place your holi- day tree near a heat source such as a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, making it more susceptible to fires caused by heat, flame or sparks. 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