The New Homemaker Newsletter for July 6, 2007

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Dear Readers,

First off, please everyone wish my mom HAPPY BIRTHDAY this Saturday!! :) I won't say how old. We love you, Grandma!

Did you have a good Fourth? We did. John went nuts with the smoker and now we have enough apple-smoked sausage/cheese/salmon/chicken to last us a few weeks! And it still smells like a campfire out back. We are still getting used to not having John around the house all day every day, but are figuring out what to do with ourselves.

What the girls are doing is living in the swimming pool. We got one of those really nice but inexpensive inflatable pools with a filter, and they've lived in it all week. It's been in the upper 80s and low 90s here, which is extremely hot for Portland. I'm glad we've had it.

Speaking of which, we're off to the pool store! Enjoy this summer weekend!

From the Hacker Housewife: Online Shopping Safety

Identity theft is on the rise, and that makes online shoppers nervous. Online shopping shouldn't have to be dangerous, as long as you know what to watch out for.

Using a secure method of payment is always the best option. Look for websites that use services like PayPal or BidPay. These sites are specially designed to prevent fraud and protect both the buyer and the seller from potential problems. Paying through a service like PayPal means the seller never sees your credit card information. This protects you both from fraudulent charges the seller may make, but also from the risk of having the seller's information stolen--including your credit card information.

If you are using a credit card, you are at risk for theft every time you give out your card number no matter where you use it. Although experts agree that using a credit card is far safer for online shopping than a debit card (credit cards hold extra protection against fraud, but debit cards generally speaking don't), you still need to take care. One way to avoid problems is to use a virtual credit card. These prepaid gift cards are the best way to go because they come with a preset limit, which you have already paid, whether that be $10 or $500. There is no way for anyone to spend more than the limit, even if they steal your number. Virtual cards also offer special online shopping protection.

Bank account numbers, passport or other ID numbers and passwords should never be kept on your computer. Some websites utilize spyware to enter your computer and search out this information to be sent back to unscrupulous people, allowing them to rob your identity. Instead, keep this information on a burned CD or a USB memory stick which you can remove easily. Better yet, just write it down. But there's always the risk that someone around you could find your passwords--co-workers and children, especially. If you do write down your passwords, store them some place secure.

When paying for something during your online shopping spree, avoid using services like Western Union or any other payment method where you are not protected. With systems like PayPal and many credit cards, if you don't receive the goods after sending payment, you have ways to reclaim your money, whereas with a check, or some other payment methods you have no proof.

Whenever you are asked to enter private, personal information, check to see if there is a privacy policy on the website. This should just say that they promise to keep your information safe and will not sell, rent or give it away to anyone else. If there is no privacy policy, do not submit your information since it will then become public property.

Also, when doing your online shopping, you should always have an anti-virus and an anti-spyware program installed on your computer and running. Online shopping while unprotected is a very dangerous venture! You can pick up all sorts of nasty problems while searching for that perfect gift!

Online shopping is convenient and in most cases, secure. Just make sure you use the above tips to keep it as safe as possible.

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The Regular Roundup:

Latest Article

Beat Insomnia Now

leep can be an elusive thing. Experience a couple nights of tossing and turning in bed, and it's all too tempting to reach for a sleep aid. But before you do, consider that several recent studies conducted at major institutions all over the country show that, despite their ordinary nature, simple behavioral strategies--like going to bed at the same time every night and avoiding afternoon naps--really do work. What's more, over-the-counter sleep medications can leave you feeling sluggish the next day, and "there’s very little evidence that these sleep aids actually result in significant sleep," says Mark Mahowald, M.D., director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in Minneapolis.

What about prescription sleep drugs? For acute, short-term insomnia--such as that brought on by a stressful event, like a death in the family--experts say these medications can help. "In fact, by treating acute short-term insomnia [with prescription sleep aids] when it first occurs, we can actually prevent the development of long-term insomnia," says Dr. Mahowald. But for the occasional sleepless night, consider the following 10 tips. You may find they help you get to sleep just as well as popping a pill!

continued...

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If you've read TNH for any length of time, you know I advocate using natural cleaners. Did you know that hydrogen peroxide is a safe and natural way to get rid of most toxic molds and mildews? That's just one of the things I learned from 101 Home Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide, a greak ebook that will teach you how to use plain old supermarket hydrogen peroxide to do everything from remove laundry stains to take skunk odor off your dog! Check it out today.

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