Issue Date: May 6, 2007
Save on auto insurance
A good driving record or an anti-theft device means lower insurance premiums. Be sure to update your insurer on your situation to catch these lesser-known breaks, says Robert Hunter, of the Consumer Federation of America:
Lower mileage. Did you recently get a job closer to your home? Many insurers will offer breaks to drivers whose yearly mileage is below, say, 7,500 miles.
Fewer drivers. The fewer people on the policy, the less you'll pay. If your child left for college or your spouse won't drive the van, take him or her off the policy.
A stellar credit rating. If you have recently upped your credit score, then inform your insurer, which uses the score to price your policy. Some reward drivers with good scores.
Insurers who tout large discounts also may charge above-average rates to begin with. So when you ask your current insurer for breaks, check out what the competition is offering to ensure you get the best deal.
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Fitness helps baby-to-be, too
Mom and Baby both will benefit from exercise.
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Studies show that regular, moderate exercise during pregnancy can be beneficial not only for mothers, but for babies, as well. British researchers recently determined that women who had more stored fat on their bodies were more likely to have babies with a higher percentage of body fat. But according to Leisa Hart, the star of the "FitMama Prenatal" and "FitMama Postnatal" DVD series, avoiding unhealthy levels of fat is just one of the many advantages of getting fit -- and staying fit -- throughout your pregnancy.
"Staying fit during pregnancy has endless benefits," Hart says. "It can ease back pain, improve digestion, increase your energy levels, ease emotional highs and lows, help prepare you for labor and delivery -- and help you bounce back quicker after delivery."
Hart recommends a combination of exercises that include light cardio and stretching. Her own series incorporates yoga, light aerobic dance and toning exercises. "These exercises give expectant moms the right moves to stay fit, reduce excessive weight gain, increase energy and get ready for the big day," Hart says. "Pelvic floor exercises, preparation for pushing exercises and breathing techniques are included and can be very helpful with both labor and delivery."
Always consult your doctor before starting anything new. Hart also says to avoid doing exercises while flat on your back when you're past the 20-week mark. You can read more about the "FitMama" series at leisahart.com.
Contact Jorge Cruise, author of "The 3-Hour Diet," at 3hourdiet.com.
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Eek! I lost my ID, and I'm at airport security
Even without ID, you often can wing it.
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What happens if you get to the airport and discover that your driver's license or passport has been lost or stolen? Can you still fly domestically? Yes, in most cases. Although the Transportation Security Administration requires that airlines match IDs with boarding passes, it's up to each carrier to determine how to handle a passenger without a valid ID at the ticket counter.
"We would assume that you have the ability to match yourself to your flight record locator number [at a kiosk using a credit card or at the counter]," says Tim Smith of American Airlines. "We can still issue a boarding pass. But we'll also code [it] for extra screening." That extra security screening determines whether or not you will fly.
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Make your own ringtones
Cellular carriers make a lot of money off of ringtones, which generally sell for $2.99 each and often are snippets of songs you already own. With Xingtone's $19.95 software, you can create unlimited ringtones from audio files on your Mac or PC.
Downloadable at xingtone.com, the software is easy to use, too. Select a song or other audio file and use editing tools to clip out the part you want. Click "send," and the software sends a text message to your phone containing a link to download the ringtone (you'll need Web access from your carrier). Included: a feature to send pictures and voice-recorded ringtones to friends' phones.
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