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Show FEBRUARY 1,2007 Page 4 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER It Makes tout.. By Veda Hale It's the time of year when we are wondering about all that Christmas buying we did. Was it all worth it? If it there is that question, perhaps thinking about next year now is wise. "Linda Stem from Personal Finance Weekly said that if you "Put $1,000 on a credit card charging 18 percent interest, make the minimum payments every month and it can take three years to kill the balance — way longer than it can take to break all those toys. Not that I'm a grinch. The holidays are special and the extra gifts and flourishes that money can buy help make them that way. They're even more special if you do them without debt." . . Here are some tips for stretching that holiday budget so that you're not still paying for Christmas when Easter rolls around: • Do the list thing, and check it thrice. It's standard advice, but if you make a list of every person you need to get a gift for, along with a dollar limit per person, you're more likely to stick within your budget. • Negotiate with everyone. Assume that your brother-in-law would be just as happy to skip the tie exchange as you would be. Suggest something different for the extended family: an outing instead of presents, a dollar limit on gifts, a big family-to-family gift instead of individual gifts for every niece or nephew. Or agree to give time instead of stuff: It really works to give a night of baby-sitting, a home-cooked meal, a day of running errands or light household repairs. • Shop smart, but don't shop much. Comparison shop online, so that you know the prices of the items you want to get. The more online shopping you do, the less likely you are to buy additional impulse items in the stores. Shop through a webbased portal that will give you cash back on everything (such as ebates.com or upromise.com). Use a cash-back credit card, and check your credit card issuer's web site to see whether it is offering special cash-back deals from "partner" stores. Use comparison sites like shoplocal.com so you know who's charging how much before you get into your car and head out. • Make stuff. It's fun and it's festive and it's cheaper than buying everything. You can print your- own wrapping paper and 'greeting cards, give'kitchen and workshop-made gifts, and even'grow your own Christmas trees (perhaps not this year, though.) Trees may sound crazy but at nurseries like alpine-nurseryonline.com you can get 20 seedlings for around $20. They make nice little gifts or you can plant them all over your yard and harvest them in the years to come. • Be traditional. It's hard to decorate more cheaply — or prettily — than with popcorn and cranberry strings and greens from your yard. * Combine friends, work and bulk discounts. Get together with a group of friends and divide the pressure. Cookie exchanges, present-wrapping parties and the like take the pressure out of socializing and save time. • Pool your money for holiday items that are cheaper by the dozen: bottles of wine, big wrapping paper assortments or even bags of fruits and vegetables for holiday meals. You could have a bulk shopping/splitting party a week before your holiday, or a big baking session or mid-season potluck dinner. • Save around the edges. Meet friends for lunch or coffee instead of dinner; play board games instead of going to the movies; give inexpensive but nice gifts like magazine subscriptions or tea assortments to friends and acquaintances. Save money early in the month with, extra vegetarian meals or brown bag lunches so you can pay more of the holidays as you go. Read more tips for downsizing the holiday budget at Center for A New American Dream (newdream.org). Little savings really can make a difference. Prepare for next year now. You know it's corning. Create a holiday slush funtf thar-Jasts.all year, whether'it's a separate bank account or a coin jar. Start shopping the day after Christmas for the wrapping paper and cards you know you'll want to use. ORIGINALS AND PRINTS Shop all spring and summer for great gifts when you find them. By the time WINTER HOURS holiday season 2007 rolls around, it will open upon request mostly be bought and paid for. 63 N. Main, Panguitch Send suggestions to Veda Hale P.O. Box 435-676-2895 956, Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email Vedahale@yahoo.com vedahale@hotmail.com VEDA HALE Sfudia & M Goffer NEW EAGLE SCOUTS HONORED by Norman McKee, Panguitch Wow! Sunday, January 21st was quite a day in Panguitch. Five new Eagle Ranks were awarded in one Court of Honor, in Unit 1724, sponsored by the L.D.S. Panguitch 4th Ward. Five honored at once by one unit may be a first for the Panguitch District of the Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts ofAmerica. There were five young men honored with the Eagle Rank. Geoffery Reynolds, 18, is a son of Nick & Jewell Reynolds. Geoffery's Eagle Project involved a public education program for the Southwest District Health Department about West Nile Virus. He is a Senior at Panguitch High School with great future goals. Brady Barney, 17, is a son of Curtis & Cindy Barney. Brady's Eagle Project helped the Garfield County School District with a whole bunch of different things including work in the libraries. He is a valuable member of the Panguitch High School's basketball team. Kirby Houston, 16, is a son of Frank & Jeri Lu Houston. Kirby's Eagle Project completed the stage on the Outdoor Learning Workshop area on Panguitch Creek. Kirby is an excellent student at Panguitch High School. Taylor Bremner, 16, is a son of Brain & Jennifer Bremner. Taylor's Eagle Project completed work at the outdoor pavilion at the L.D.S. Stake Center. Taylor is active in all kinds of things at Panguitch High. Riley Taylor, 16, son of Bret & Lesa Taylor. Riley's Eagle Project completed various work at the Panguitch Elementary School soccer field. Riley is very active in sports at Panguitch High School. The projects involve taking leadership roles in organizing and completing tasks that serve the needs of the community or area in which they live. In addition to the Eagle Project, each earned at least 21 merit badges in a variety of subjects. An eagle candidate also must serve in leadership roles in his boy scout unit and give service thoughout his scouting years. Excitement is building as five more scouts in the Fourth Ward work to complete thier requirements for the Eagle Rank this coming year. iTRANSMISSIONtoAUTOMOTlUE Automatic & Standard Transmission & Clutch Jobs "Specializing In" Electronic Problems Both Engine & Transmission We Service Large Trucks & Motor Homes ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIALS 1 DAY SERVICE In Most Cases: Motor Mounts CV Joints & Boots Inspections - Tune ups Quick Lube - Brakes Cedar City •I' -590M.iilLCedir6ny- "Where Trust Is A Tradition' ~ Over 35 Years Experience |