The previous federal tax-credit cap no longer applies.

For more information on ways to save money by using federal tax credits for energy efficiency improvements, go to:

Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

—Peter Bacque

Weldon Hazlewood and David Blanset, volunteer insurance counselors with Senior Connections—The Capital Area Agency on Aging, answered questions about Medicare last week at a program at Corinth United Methodist Church in Sandston.
One thing they emphasized is that folks should sign up for Medicare when they become eligible, around their 65th birthday.
If they miss the initial enrollment period, perhaps because they are healthy and don’t want to pay the premiums for Part B, bear in mind there are penalties when signing up later.

Here are some other tips from the federal Medicare program.

8 Things to Consider When Choosing or Changing Your Coverage
1. Coverage - Are the services you need covered?
2. Your other coverage - If you have other types of health or prescription drug coverage, make sure you understand how that coverage works with Medicare. If you have employment-related coverage, or get your health care from an Indian Health or Tribal Health Program, talk to your benefits administrator, insurer, or plan before making any changes.
3. Costs - How much are your premiums, deductibles, and other costs? How much do you pay for services like hospital stays or doctor visits? Is there a yearly limit on what you could pay out of pocket for medical services? Make sure you understand any coverage rules that may affect your costs.
4. Doctor and hospital choice - Do your doctors accept the coverage? Are the doctors you want to see accepting new patients? Do you have to choose your hospital and health care providers from a network? Do you need to get referrals?
5. Prescription drugs - What are your drug needs? Do you need to join a Medicare drug plan? Do you already have creditable prescription drug coverage? Will you pay a penalty if you join a drug plan later? What will your prescription drugs cost under each plan? Are your drugs covered under the plan’s formulary (drug list)?
6. Quality of care - The quality of care and services given by plans and other health care providers can vary.
7. Convenience - Does the plan include the doctors you see and the pharmacies you use? Can you get your prescriptions by mail? Do the doctors use electronic health records or E-prescribe? 
8. Travel - Will the plan cover you if you travel to another state?

-Be dependable. Know your schedule and always show up on time. Tell your supervisor that you are available in a pinch if there’s a need. Retail managers are constantly struggling to find reliable workers, so as long as you are dependable, this tip should be an easy one to master.

-Do the work. Show that you are not just working the job to make some holiday cash, but instead there to help the company. Workers who are just putting in their “time,” are easy to spot – and managers know who those folks are. Instead, show your value by always trying to go above and beyond what is asked of you.

-Network within the company. Get to know all the managers—and make sure they know your strengths. The more managers who know who you are and what you’re capable of will give you multiple opportunities to shine and land one or more permanent openings.

-Look the part. Companies like Abercrombie even admit to hiring people who look like their customers (like they belong at the store). Even if you wear a vest or coat, or some other type of uniform, if you are dealing with customers, you should always try to look and dress your best. Good grooming and hygiene are essential.

-Be the problem-solver. Whenever there is a problem that needs to be resolved, volunteer to help solve the problem. Managers love workers who are not only self-sufficient, but who think proactively, taking care of little problems before they become major catastrophes.

-Avoid the grapevine. Spending too much time gossiping about fellow co-workers is one of the sure ways to make a name for yourself—in the totally WRONG way. Now, this tip doesn’t mean you should not be friendly; quite the opposite. You should be friendly with all co-workers (as well as customers)—just stay away from talking about other people.

-Don’t overdo the employee discount. Sure, the discount is there for you to use—and it’s a great win-win to have the extra income AND get a discount, just don’t go crazy with it. Share the discount with your family members, but don’t have the whole neighborhood coming to the store to get your discount.

-Express your interest. There is certainly no harm to talking with all the managers—once you’ve established some rapport with them—that you are interested in a full-time position should one become available.

Most Realtors advise people to sit tight if they are thinking about selling but have little or no equity in their houses. But if you need to sell for a job or lifestyle change, how are you coping and how much financial loss are you willing to take to protect your credit?

My Brother’s Keeper (Assembly Required)

TEN years ago my mother died in my arms, propped up on plush, monogrammed Laura Ashley pillows with Frank Sinatra singing “My Way” through Sony Walkman earphones strapped to her head. The Walkman didn’t fit the décor, and neither did I. My mother and I were not close, and it was somewhat ironic that, of her four children, I would be the one rubbing her spongy forearms and kneading her ice-cold feet as she prepared to lay her burden down.

She would leave me a house full of furniture, some family jewelry and — whether I liked it, wanted it, understood it or was prepared for it — John, my 42-year-old mentally challenged brother. Because that’s what happens. People die. Their burdens don’t.

For the rest of the story, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/fashion/22Love.html

Before you do anything, wipe your memory or find a place that will do that for you. Chances are a computer recycler will do that, but it’s best to check to make sure. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has a list of memory wiping programs and other guidance.

Last year, the law went into effect requiring manufacturers who sold more than 500 units in Virginia to offer a recycle or take back program to consumers. More than two dozen have filed qualifies plans with the state. The list of participating companies includes Apple, Sony, Dell and local player Velocity Micro.

Several localities also offer eRecycling events or allow residents to dispose of “anything with a plug.” Find out what is happening in your locality.

The Central Virginia Waste Management Authority also offers a recycling wizard widget to help local residents sort out their options.

—Know your store’s refund policy, especially the deadlines. This way, you won’t be disappointed if you need to bring things back to the store.
—Keep your receipts. Most stores require receipts for course material returns.
—Don’t write in your books until you’re certain you’ll be keeping them. Most stores will not offer full credit for books that have been marked.
—Buy “used” books whenever possible. Working to help students save money, college stores strive to provide as many used textbooks as possible.
—Be cautious when making educational purchases online. The exact items you need may not be available right away causing you to fall behind in your studies. Also, don’t forget to calculate shipping expenses into the total cost of the textbook.
—If you have a choice between buying a textbook by itself, or the same text packaged with a study guide or software package, make sure you need both parts. Packages can be a great value but are often non-returnable once opened.

A burger, fries and drink from a fast-food restaurant’s dollar menu are usually cheaper than a by-the-pound salad or grilled chicken breast on whole wheat with a fruit cup on the side.

But there are other options in between.

The August 8 Moneywise feature in the Times-Dispatch focuses on getting fit on a budget, with the emphasis on getting more physical activity without breaking the bank.

Dietary choices are also part of the package. Here are some tips, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on eating healthy on a budget.

Shopping:
•Make a list of all the foods you need. Do this in your kitchen so you can check what you have on hand.
•Look for specials in the newspaper ads for the stores where you shop.
•Look for coupons for foods you plan to buy. Coupons save money only if you need the product. Also, other brands and store brands may be cheaper.
•Buy low-cost nutritious foods like potatoes and frozen orange juice concentrate. These foods keep well.
•Compare the cost of convenience foods such as frozen meals with the same foods made from scratch. Most cost more than similar foods prepared at home and you can use less fat, sugar, and salt in food you make at home.
•Try store brands. They usually cost less than name brands, but they taste as good and generally have the same nutritional value.
•Look for bargains on day-old bread and bakery products.
•Buy regular rice, oatmeal, and grits instead of the instant and flavored types.
•Look for large bags of frozen vegetables. They may be bargains and you can cook just the amount you need, close the bag tightly, and put the rest back in the freezer.
•Nonfat dry milk is the least expensive way to buy milk. When using it as a beverage, mix it several hours ahead and refrigerate so it can get cold before drinking.
•Look for specials at the meat counter. Buying cuts of meat on sale can mean big savings for you.
•Buy chuck or bottom round roast instead of sirloin. These cuts have less fat and cost less. They need to be covered during cooking and cooked longer to make the meat tender.
•Buy whole chickens and cut them into serving size pieces yourself.
•Buy dry beans and peas to use instead of meat, poultry or fish sometimes. They cost less and provide many of the same nutrients. They are also lower in fat.
•Buy bulk foods when they are available and suit your needs

Cooking :
•Use planned leftovers to save both time and money. For example, prepare a dish and serve half of it, and freeze the remaining half to use later. You also can freeze extra cooked meats and vegetables for soups or stews.
•Do batch cooking when your food budget and time allow. For example, cook a large batch of turkey chili, divide it into family-size portions, and freeze some for meals later in the month.
•Plan snacks that give your family the nutrients they need. Buy fresh fruits in season like apples or peaches.
•Limit the amount of fat, sugar, and salt in preparing foods.
•Flavor foods with herbs, spices, and other low-fat seasonings instead of using rich sauces and gravy.

Additional resources:
CDC site on healthy meals
MyPyramid.gov
USDA Recipes and Tips for Healthy, Thrifty Meals

But you might be a little fuzzy on some other foods. For instance, a six-inch Subway tuna sub has 530 calories, a few less than the 550 calories in KFC’s Original Recipe Double Down, with two pieces of bacon, two slices of cheese and sauce between two white meat chicken filets.

A 32-ounce McDonald’s Strawberry TripleThick Shake has 1,100 calories, compared to 330 calories in the chain’s 22 ounce Strawberry Banana Smoothie. Wendy’s Southwest Taco Salad has 680 calories, almost as many as a meal of a Double Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe (390 calories) and small fry (330 calories).

Today’s Moneywise feature in the business section of the newspaper is on a provision of federal health reform that would require chain restaurants with 20 or more locations to post calorie counts of standard items. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking public comment on the provision.

Putting calorie counts on menus and menu board is controversial. Health officials say the information can help people make healthier choices as the nation deals with an obesity crisis and more meals are eaten away from home. Business owners said it’s just more government regulation.