Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/488059
Iamembarrassedto admit how many per- sonal items I've left be- hind in hotel rooms over the years. I'm talk- ing about phone char- gers, flash drives, hair products, power tooth- brushes — and even clothes left hang- ing in the closet. What's wrong with me? I left my must-have travel pillow — not once, but twice. My recovery rate is lousy, too. I got my pillow back the first time, but then managed a repeat and alas, it was never to be seen again. Several months ago I put today's first tip into action on my travels. This simple routine has made all the difference for me. It keeps all of my things organized and easily accounted for. And I'm happy to report: I've now arrived home with all of my possessions intact for six trips in a row — a new personal best. Hoteltraveltip Make this the first thing you do when you walk in your room: Take a hand towel from the bathroom and spread it out on the desk or other counter top in the room. This becomes the de facto place for all of your things that you have a place for at home. Put your room key on the towel, your car keys, sunglasses, recharg- ers, wallet — everything. Now everything is visi- ble and in one spot, rather than scattered about the room. As you come and go, return these items to their place on the towel. When you're ready to check out, no searching, nothing left behind. While we're talking about handy, dandy house- hold tips, here are more of my favorites: Gingersecret If you enjoy using fresh ginger in your home cook- ing, here's a fabulous trick to make sure it's always fresh and handy. Peel a few large pieces of ginger, breaking them into 1-inch knobs. Place the pieces into a zip-top plastic bag and store this in the freezer. When you want fresh gin- ger, grab a peeled knob and grate the amount you need — still frozen — using a mi- croplane grater, directly into the dish. Dustrepellant Here's a clever way to clean hard surfaces (glass tables, shower doors, coun- ters) and at the same time apply a dust repellant so they stay cleaner longer. Add 1 part liquid softener to 4 parts water and store in a spray bottle. Apply to a clean cloth, wipe the sur- face, and then polish with a dry cloth. You can accom- plish the same dust repel- lant trick on TV screens and computer monitors by dust- ing them with a used dryer sheet. It will still have just enough anti-static product in it to do the job without leaving any film or residue. Cupcakeliners. Muffin/cupcake paper liners are so handy to have around, but can be a pain to store. The best solution ever is to store them in a wide- mouth Mason (canning) jar. They stack perfectly and look pretty, too. Works well for stackable, colorful reus- able silicon muffin/cupcake cups, too. Magnetpinsweep Keep a small magnet in your sewing box or basket. It's handy for rounding up wayward pins and dropped needles. Just run it across the carpet, floor or work surface and watch those pins grab on. Handymeasure Caught without a mea- suring tape, but need to measure something quickly? Grab your wallet. A U.S. dollar bill is, for all practical purposes, exactly 6 inches wide. Fold it in half and you've got a 3-inch measure. Do it again to measure 1.5 inches. This is a great trick to teach kids. MaryHuntisthefounderof www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website. You can email her at mary@everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Ste. B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE Hotel rooms that make stuff vanish IGO The California De- partment of Veterans Af- fairs leadership met March 24 with the Northern Cal- ifornia Veterans Cemetery (NCVC) Monuments and Memorials Advisory Com- mittee (MMAC) and com- munity members. During this meet- ing, CalVet officials an- nounced existing mon- uments and memorials at the cemetery will re- main in place. Addition- ally, CalVet will be reap- pointing the MMAC com- mittee members. "Reappointing members to the Monuments and Me- morials Advisory Commit- tee is an important first step in ensuring the com- munity is effectively rep- resented and provided the opportunity to voice their ideas and concerns," said CalVet's Deputy Secretary of Veterans Services Keith Boylan. "The community's in- put is integral to the de- velopment and growth of the cemetery moving for- ward, and we are accept- ing applications from past members as well as new members for the commit- tee." CalVet is preparing reg- ulations to standardize the monuments and me- morials approval process at all state veteran cem- eteries. The regulations will be based on National Ceme- tery Administration Shrine Standards and will be pub- licly discussed through the California Rulemaking Process. For more information about the NCVC, including how to apply for MMAC membership, visit www. calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/ Pages/Monuments-and-Me- morials-Advisory-Commit- tees.aspx. MMAC applications will be accepted through April 30. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA VETERANS CEMETERY Monuments, memorials to remain in place Mary Hunt FollowusonTwitterandFacebook. DAILYNEWSPHOTOBYCHIPTHOMPSON HundredsofchildrenswarmedoverthegroundsatJacksonHeightsSchool Saturday morning as part of the annual Red Bluff Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt. More than 6,000 plastic eggs, each containing a piece of candy, were hidden by Kiwanis members and students from the Red Bluff High School Key Club. When the siren sounded at 9 a.m. to signal the start of the hunt it was just a few minutes before all the eggs were collected. A few specially colored egg were placed around the grounds and the children who found them exchanged them for various prizes. KIWANIS EGG HUNT A HIT Nobody's perfect. Mis- takes happen. But if you make a mistake on your tax return, it will likely take the IRS longer to process it. That could de- lay your refund. The best way to avoid errors is to use IRS e-file. Paper filers are about 20 times more likely to make a mistake than e-filers. IRS e-file is the most accurate way to file your tax return. 8 common tax-filing errors 1. Wrong or missing So- cial Security numbers. Be sure you enter all SSNs on your tax return exactly as they are on the Social Se- curity cards. 2. Wrong names. Be sure you spell the names of ev- eryone on your tax return exactly as they are on their Social Security cards. 3. Filing status errors. Some people use the wrong filing status, such as Head of Household instead of Single. The Interactive Tax Assistant on IRS.gov can help you choose the right status. If you e-file, the tax software helps you choose. 4. Math mistakes. Dou- ble-check your math. For example, be careful when you add or subtract or fig- ure items on a form or worksheet. Tax prepara- tion software does all the math for e-filers. 5. Errors in figuring credits or deductions. Many filers make mistakes figuring their Earned In- come Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Credit, and the standard deduction. If you're not e- filing, follow the instruc- tions carefully when figur- ing credits and deductions. For example, if you're age 65 or older or blind, be sure you claim the cor- rect, higher standard de- duction. 6. Wrong bank account numbers. You should choose to get your refund by direct deposit. Be sure to use the right routing and account numbers on your return. The fastest and safest way to get your tax refund is to combine e- file with direct deposit. 7. Forms not signed. An unsigned tax return is like an unsigned check — it's not valid. Both spouses must sign a joint return. 8. Electronic filing PIN errors. When you e-file, you sign your return elec- tronically with a Personal Identification Number. If you know last year's e- file PIN, you can use that. If you don't know it, en- ter the Adjusted Gross In- come from the 2013 tax return that you originally filed with the IRS. Do not use the AGI amount from an amended return or a return that the IRS cor- rected. TAX TIPS Avoid these common tax mistakes PLEASERECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. 2 Bud's BBQ 592AntelopeBlvd.RedBluff (IntheoldProntoMarket) M-F 11am-6pm • Sat. 11am-3pm • Closed Sun. 528-0799 BBQ PORK★ BEEF ★ CHICKEN One question we all love to hate WHAT'S FOR DINNER? Seeusforyourdinner needs, lunch too! WHAT'S FOR DINNER? 1921 ~ 2015 94 TH APRIL17,18,19,2015 Friday Family Packs $ 35 RODEO AMERICA'S ORIGINAL EXTREME SPORT! 604 Main St. Red Bluff (530) 529-5154 www.redblufflosmariachis.com Breakfast: 9am-11am • 7 days a week Good through May 2, 2015 On items of equal or lesser value Cannot be used with other specials Limit to one per party per day Breakfast Special Buy 1 Get 1 50% off Breakfast (must purchase two drinks) Mel's Place • Lingerie • Airbrush Tanning • Swimwear 332OakStreet Red Bluff (530) 604-4182 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 22755 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff, CA 96080 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!! Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers 816Walnut St., Red Bluff, CA (530) 527-1174 www.chapeloftheflowers.net Funerals • Cremations • Prearrangements FD652 Locallyowned business offering high value, low cost energy for decades. Call Liam at 526-1551 or visit www.sacriversolar.com Lic# 996900 WeDo Alignments, Brakes, Shocks, Struts, Oil Changes, Suspension, Trailer Repairs, Batteries & Wipers 1375MontgomeryRd. Red Bluff, CA 530 529-0797 LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, March 31, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5