Backcountry comforts

Just because you're in the boonies doesn't mean you have to be uncivilized. Here are a few neat tricks

Laundromat
Put your clothes in a wide-mouth water bottle, fill 3/4 with water and a teaspoon of biodegradable soap. Toss in the backpack. The churning action strips out the stench and you have fresh laundry. (from Dave Trendler)

Food that does double duties
Tortillas are dense in calories and don't need special packing care (they're already flat!), and it works as a yummy potholder/hotpad.

Bagging a bargain according to the calendar

Excerpt, Vanguard  

Some goods are less expensive at certain times of the year. You can find opportunities through an online search engine, using a phrase such as "best time to buy" either by itself, or in combination with the type of product you need.

Appliances
Just like automobiles and many other goods, appliances go through annual makeovers. And the new versions emerge in September and October.

That makes those months a great time to buy appliances because prices on the old models get slashed to get them out of the store, according to Bankrate.com.

Automobiles
Getting a car at a great price often depends a lot on how good a bargainer you are. However, according to Edmunds.com, an authoritative automotive website, you can get closer to your ideal price if you shop for those wheels:

•  At the end of the month, when dealerships are eager to earn manufacturer bonuses for meeting sales quotas.
• At the end of a model year, when last year's car looks so out of date.
• At the end of a car's design cycle, just before the car been redesigned bumper to bumper. 

Carpeting 
Who thinks of buying carpeting in January? Very few of us, says Kiplinger magazine, which is why the people selling wall-to-wall carpets tend to offer very good deals that month to get us to consider new rugs.

But, it is best to find that plush carpet by mid-February, the magazine says. After that, tax refunds start arriving in and prices on carpets tend to start going back up, the magazine adds.

Computers 
It is possible to find good deals on computers during the holiday season and the weeks just before school starts—times when electronics stores like to put computers on sale.

However, February and March also bring good money-saving opportunities on computers and other electronic products. Why? Because early in January and February manufacturers of electronic products gather at the International Consumer Electronics Show and Macworld to announce their coolest, newest products, automatically rendering the ones announced the previous year obsolete.

"Deals often come up when a technology is outdated and retailers want to get rid of older models," the website GetRichSlowly.org says.

Cooking stuff
Absolutely need new pots and pans? Look for bargains in May, April, October and November, according to an article on Bankrate.com.

Stores put cookware on sale in April and May because shoppers look for wedding and graduation gifts. Cookware goes on sale again in October and November to appeal to holiday gift-givers, says the website.

Digital cameras
February and March are also particularly good months to snag a deal on a digital camera because new models are introduced in January at International CES and the Photo Marketing Association show, according to the magazine PCWorld.

"As new cameras arrive, sellers deeply discount the older models … a boon for bargain hunters who don't need the latest and greatest technology," the magazine points out.

Furniture 
New furniture models come to the stores in February, according to Bankrate.com. And that turns February into a good month to save on furniture.

However, if you are looking to replace that age-old bedraggled couch and miss the February window, you may get another chance in July, a month when the new stuff for fall starts arriving, according to Bankrate.com.

Health club memberships
July, August, and September "are traditionally fire-sale season for fitness centers," because many fitness buffs quit their gyms and take to exercising outdoors, according to Forbes magazine.

Outdoor toys
All that fun stuff for summer—everything from bathing suits to swing sets—sees prices drop in August, when stores are looking to increase their stocks of fall merchandise, according to Kiplinger. During those dog days of summer you can look for discounts that range from 30% to 75%, the magazine says.

Plane tickets
Airline ticket prices veer crazily, driven by competition among airlines, the season, and even fuel prices.
Still, experts point to one time when you can look for good deals: Wednesday, which is the midpoint of a complicated weekly cycle that sees prices start to rise late in the week and then start to fall early the following week.

"What’s the best time to buy your ticket on Wednesday? One hour after Tuesday midnight (1 a.m. Wednesday morning)," Peter Greenberg, travel editor for CBS News and travel editor at large for AARP, writes on his website.

"Why? At about midnight, the airlines usually reload their computers with the latest low-cost fares that were announced the previous day but will be canceled if they are not purchased within 24 hours," Greenberg advises.

Vacuum cleaners
Yes, there's even a good time to wind up with a deal on a vacuum cleaner: April and May, just before new models are announced in June, says FreeShipping.org, a website for bargain hunters.
We can’t always plan when we have to make purchases. But if you think there’s a new purchase in your future consider the above guidelines. You may just find yourself spending less than you anticipated.

How to compliment people

From "Why Compliments Terrify Us" by Elizabeth Bernstein for the Wall Street Journal

• Be sincere.
• Be selective. Think Goldilocks. Not too big or too small. 
• Be specific. Don't say" You look pretty today. Say: That sweater really brings out the color of your eyes. 
• Show impact. Tell people how they have positively affected you. Instead of "I like your column today," try "Your story made me run out and complement a stranger. 

When you receive a compliment, just say thank you. Be gracious, not self-deprecating. Don't worry about returning the praise. It's a compliment, not a volley.

Questions to ask references for building contractors

It's best to hire contractors recommended by other people. Ask your friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Some companies have mailing lists or discussion boards about contractors. Try that first.

Before you hire a contractor to do significant changes to your house, you should ask at least three of his or her former clients about his work. He should be able to give you names upon request.

It seems like an overkill, but be diligent about checking references. We avoided hiring terrible contractors and a lot of pain because of diligent checking and friend's comments. Yes, Virginia, people will lie to you to get your money.

So what do you ask the references? The following are questions recommended by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI):

1. Could you communicate well with the remodeler?
2. Were you pleased with the quality of work?
   This is a tough question, however, since everyone defines "quality" differently. It is much better to ask to see the completed project to determine the level of quality for yourself.
3. Were you satisfied with the remodeler's business practices?
4. Did the crew show up on time?
5. Were you comfortable with the trades people the remodeler subcontracted to?
6. Was the job completed on schedule?
7. Did the remodeler fulfill his or her contract?
8. Did the contractor stay in touch throughout the project?
9. Were the final details finished in a timely manner?
10. Would you use the remodeler again without hesitation?
11. Was the job site kept clean during the project?
12. Was the remodeler professional, ethical, honest and fair throughout the process?
13. Did the remodeler manage the overall project and process in such a way to ensure your satisfaction?
14. Did any issues arise during the project? How did the remodeler handle them?

Picking the best leek

Leeks are the thick-necked jock version of scallions. Europeans love them because they're milder and sweeter versions of onions. They're great with sauces, soups, and side dishes. Whatever works for onions works for leeks, too (except maybe in hamburgers and some types of sandwiches).

You can get them from farmers' markets from spring to fall (although the spring ones tend to be more slender). As with all vegetables, the fresher they are, the sweeter and more flavorful they are. Pick ones with vibrant leaves and a lot more white parts (which is what you use for cooking, although you can use the leaves for making stock).

Refrigerate in an open bag.

Picking the best artichoke

Artichokes are neither fruit nor vegetable. They're delicious flowers!

Picture by Matthew Wallenstein 

The tastiest ones have the following qualities:

• Fat stems (the fatter the stem, the bigger the heart 
• Bright, shiny leaves 
• Dense weight (heavy for its size)

Fresh ones give a squeak when you squeeze gently.

If you are not eating the artichoke right away, seal it in a plastic bag with a few drops of water before refrigerating.

Relaunching Mac Finder (10.6)

Finder, like Sarah Palin, is always on. (Is that woman ever not hamming things up? I mean, honestly!) It always runs. You can hide it, but you can't quit it or anything. You can, however, restart it by doing the following: 

1. Press and hold the option key while you click the Finder icon on the desktop dock.
2. Click Relaunch.
3. Press command + tab to toggle to the relaunched Finder.