AP9 Articles

Shopping Essentials Provides Tips to Help Stick to Your Clothing Budget

Clothes are a necessity. Trendy, unique, brand or designer-label clothes, on the other hand, are a luxury. Yet thousands of people have found a way to wear high-quality clothes all-year-round without breaking the bank. These people are indeed smart shoppers, notes Shopping Essentials (SM), a leading discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®.

Savvy shoppers display shopping sense based on three key words: budget, planning and flexibility, notes AP9*ShoppingEssentials. Experts recommend having a clothing budget for the whole family of 6% of the net income the breadwinner(s) brings home every month. Once this amount has been determined, the second word comes into play. Clothing needs can usually be foreseen, so it's relatively easy to plan ahead and know what month to buy new school clothes, for example, and what month should be designated for other items, such as underwear, sleepwear, accessories, and more.

Flexibility is also necessary because a good shopper is always open to exploring different stores, trying new brands and hunting for bargains. And there are other ways to stretch clothing budgets, as Shopping Essentials points out:

-- Buy more classics. Make better use of your money by purchasing top-quality, classic pieces that will be wardrobe staples from year to year.

-- Trend toward discounts. Yes, trendy pieces always make a statement and are fun to wear, but they also go out of style easily. So get trendy pieces only when they're at least 40% off the original price.

-- Dress for your body type. The idea is to look good not only with quality clothes but also with pieces that fit the body in all the right places. Try on different things to learn what works and what doesn't in terms of cuts, colors, etc.

-- Seize the sales. High-end stores are like heaven towards the end of each season. The sales are great, and they always have coupons out. This is the time to buy quality clothing for everyone in the family. When shopping for children, buy pieces at least one size bigger to allow for growth spurts.

-- Shop around. End-of-season sales start gradually, so pay weekly visits to the stores to compare prices and study their evolving offers. It's also worth your time to visit discount and outlet stores. They always carry name-brand items at unbelievable prices.

-- Go online. Some stores have better sales and no shipping charges for online shoppers. Also, go to search engines and type the name of your favorite stores plus the words "promotions" or "coupons" to find great ways to save!

Like a good pair of new shoes, discounts are always welcomed. "Happy shopping," concludes AP9 ShoppingEssentials.

Your Savings Club Offers Tips for the Greenest St. Patrick’s Day Party Ever

Your Savings Club (SM), a premier entertainment and shopping savings program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, has some great ideas to make any St. Patrick’s Day party a blast.

St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17, is a great excuse for a party and can help the winter-weary shake off the doldrums. Ideas for an Irish-themed party can extend as far as one’s imagination and budget allow.

All that’s really needed is a fun environment and plenty of good food and refreshments. Then let guests do the rest, advises AP9*YourSavingsClub.

AP9 Your Savings Club helps set the stage, a green one.

While going green has a different meaning these days, around this time of year, it’s all about enjoying good food and drink with friends and family with an Irish twist, of course. Party goods stores offer a wide selection of decorations.

-- If invitations are being sent out, have a wee bit of fun by using the prefix “O” or “Mac” before guests’ names.

-- Decorate with green streamers, green light bulbs or green helium balloons.

-- Scatter cardboard shamrocks and gold, foil-wrapped chocolate coins about the house.

-- Position a large rock (we suggest a fake one, to save a trip to the chiropractor) near the door with a sign directing guests to kiss the rock for the gift of blarney before entering. Blarney, or talkativeness, is just what’s called for at a party!

-- Dig out that dated, but oh so green, blazer from the back of the closet. Don’t forget the green slacks, the fashion faux pas that once saw time on the golf course.

-- Pick up some paper leprechaun hats for guests.

-- Put some Irish music on, whether it’s traditional Irish ballads, Van Morrison, Enya or U2.

Green eggs and ham

Wondering what to serve? Your Savings Club advises:

-- If guests won’t lose their appetite, get out the green food coloring to dye everything from mashed potatoes to beer.

-- Decorate food with tiny Irish flags.

-- Experienced cooks can’t go wrong with traditional favorites like corned beef and cabbage. Many websites offer free recipes for this and other classics like Irish soda bread, beer cheese bread and Irish scones. Whet the palate with Irish cream liqueur or hot whiskey punch. Top it all off with Irish coffee and mint chocolate ice cream. Or bake a cake with (what else?) green icing.

-- For something simpler, use a cookie-cutter to make clover-shaped sandwiches. Put out bowls of green M&Ms, stock up on beer (green Gatorade and green Kool-Aid for the non-alcoholic crowd), and call it a day, suggests AP9 YourSavingsClub.

Shopping Essentials Reveals Spring 2008 Fashion Trends

AP9*ShoppingEssentials wants you to see what's hot in fashion this spring:

http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/springtrends/0,,20176707,00.html

PMIdentity Advises Consumers to be Their Own 'Travel Security Agents'

You can be a victim of identity theft while traveling. No, there's no need to store away your luggage and stay home for good, but it's wise to learn how to avoid identity theft while enjoying the next trip. PMIdentity, a leading security and privacy membership program from Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, wants consumers to be wary travelers and become their own "travel security agents."

Be cognizant. Be prepared. These are the rules to live by when traveling. Identity thieves and scammers could be around anytime, anywhere, and most of the time, they get what they're looking for from people who are just too oblivious to know about them or their schemes. As a public service, PM Identity offers tips for travelers to keep in mind before, during and after their time away from home:

Before:

-- Make copies of documents such as birth certificates, passports (if traveling abroad), credit cards and travel itinerary. Bring one copy along, and give another one to a trusted friend or relative who can be contacted in case of emergency.

-- Let the bank and credit card issuers know about the upcoming trip, so they don't freeze the accounts once they notice the unusual foreign transactions.

-- Get traveler's checks and some cash to bring along.

-- Store checkbooks along with other sensitive information in a safe deposit box, and request a mail hold through the US Post Office.

-- Clean out your purse and wallet of unnecessary cards or other forms of ID.

During:

-- Keep a watchful eye over your personal effects at all times: at the airport, during check-in, at the beach, etc. Place your belongings in an overhead compartment on the opposite side of the aisle, so you always have it in sight while in the air.

-- Use travel accessories such as money belts, security travel bags or purses and money clips.

-- Avoid using public computers for transactions when sensitive information is required. You can never be sure if the Internet connection is a safe one, and in some cases scammers could have placed devices to store all the information you enter, including e-mail passwords.

-- Use the hotel's safe to store extra cash, credit cards, traveler's checks, the copies you brought with you and other personal effects.

-- Be careful about what you say in public or the kind of personal information you share with perfect strangers, even if they seem nice and welcoming. After:

-- Retrieve all your mail and subscriptions from the Post Office.

-- Check your bank and credit cards accounts, and trace back all the activity with the receipts you kept from the trip.

-- Check your credit report and score to see if any changes have happened in the last few days. Keep monitoring both the report and the score in the following months.

No matter where you visit, your identity should come back home intact. It's a matter of knowing how to protect it at all times with easy tips and valuable resources, such as the ones offered by PMIdentity.

Passport to Fun Says, “Get a Jump on Spring”

Passport to Fun (SM), a premier recreation and entertainment savings program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, says it’ll soon be time to shake out those legs and exercise with the family. As temperatures rise and daylight hours get longer, AP9*PassportToFun reminds everyone that the hibernation period will soon be over; spring 2008 is fast approaching.

As the buds on the trees start to open and the flowers begin blooming, why not make exercise another rite of spring this year? Think of it … wouldn’t it be a kick to send Old Man Winter packing ahead of schedule? Now, with Passport to Fun’s following list of exercise tips, the whole family can get a jump on spring:

-- Walk the walk. Walking is not only good exercise; it can be a reminder that better weather will be coming. Just like humorist Doug Larson said, “Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.”

-- Seek and ye shall find. Most kids love hide-and-seek, so make it a point to join your kids in a game or two. Whether inside or outside, a well-played hide-and-seek game may just be the perfect way to kick-start spring — and help get the blood moving, too.

-- Hit the beach. Walking or running on the beach can make for a great family activity. Just wait for that first warm day, and plan to pull out all the stops: Bring along everyone and everything — kids, pets, and, of course, a sense of fun. As actor/comic Robin Williams once said, “Spring is nature's way of saying, ‘Let's party!’"

-- Bicycle races are coming. Maybe rock-opera pioneer Freddy Mercury had it right when he wrote, “Bicycle races are coming your way, so forget all your duties oh yeah!” And since exercise goes hand-in-hand with freedom and rebirth, rounding up the kids for a family bike ride just says “spring” all over.

-- Head for higher ground. Springtime dreams don’t have to wait, especially if the weather cooperates. That’s why making plans for a day hike can be a great way to exercise and watch spring “do its thing” at the same time. Whether kid or adult, heading outside to play is the first sure symptom of early spring fever. And planning to hit the hiking trails now — not later — is one surefire way to catch it. Don’t miss out.

Plan to spend time exercising and celebrating spring’s arrival with the family a little early this year. And remember, no matter what time of year it is, there’s always a way to have fun for less, courtesy of Passport to Fun.

DealMax Knows a Thing or Two About New Neighbors

Along with all the wrapping, carrying and packing up needed to leave a well-known place, moving to a new city or neighborhood has its own challenges. DealMax (SM), a premier membership discount program from Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, knows that being “the new kid on the block” can be a bit intimidating, but it’s also sure that moving into a new space can be an adventure.

Getting to know the new community takes a bit of effort and some patience, since the routine of the whole family is altered and a new one has to be put in place. For the “old residents,” new people represent a change as well; that’s why they’re usually curious and want to know more about the new family. Nonetheless, they’re all going to share the neighborhood. So what to do to make this experience a smooth one for those involved?

Common sense and good people skills are a good way to start. Along with these, AP9*DealMax has put together a list of simple things both sides can do to make the transition a little easier:

The newcomers:

-- Break the ice. Introduce yourself, your partner and children to next-door neighbors when they pass by or when they’re outside and don’t look busy doing something else.

-- Even if you don’t have time to stop and chat, wave and smile to new neighbors when you get the chance. This will make a wonderful first impression.

-- Get involved in the community. It’s wise to do some research before moving into the neighborhood to see what kind of communal activities happen regularly. Joining a place of worship (church, synagogue, etc.) is also a great idea to get to know new people.

-- Be polite. Yes, it’s good to know what goes on in the neighborhood, but asking too many questions can be considered rude. “Gossiper” is not a good label for new neighbors to acquire.

The neighbors:

-- Make newcomers feel welcome. It’s a nice gesture to bring over water bottles or light snacks on moving day.

-- Provide neighborhood information. The location of a 24-hour pharmacy, the nearest bakery, pizza parlor or grocery store and even the closest beauty parlor are excellent tips to give new neighbors. Make a short list, and drop it off on a quick stop.

-- Provide a little bit of help. Offer to bring the packing boxes to the local recycling center or, if the newcomers have a pet, point out the other homes where there are dogs or other animals they can befriend.

-- Don’t gossip. It’s very bad taste to talk about the old homeowners or other people in the neighborhood. Let the newcomers form their own opinions.

AP9 DealMax members also make their move a lot easier by using their member-only benefits to save money. To minimize their costs while enjoying their new home, smart consumers look to DealMax.

24Protect Plus Reminds Consumers of the Dangers of Spring and How to Avoid Them

Spring is finally around the corner, and people all over the country are preparing to get their act in gear. Spring cleaning, yard work and the long-neglected home repairs are some of the activities on people’s lists. 24Protect Plus (SM), a premier security program provided by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, recommends taking extra safety precautions while cleaning up the home and property, since many of the activities can pose a variety of health and safety risks.

Some may ask, what could be dangerous about cleaning the house? For starters, opening the windows to a warmer climate allows mosquitoes and other bugs to come in and out; taking care of the yard means taking more tools out of the garage and within the reach of kids; and moving furniture around can increase the chances for children and adults to trip and fall. None of these are things to panic about, but they merit attention. It’s all about awareness and prevention.

To promote a safe and enjoyable new season, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind while preparing the house for spring, brought by 24ProtectPlus:

When outdoors:

-- Choose a good insect repellent, and apply over skin and clothes. Experts recommend having one bug spray for adults and another for children.

-- Deet, citronella and soybean oil are the most common ingredients on insect repellents. Products with deet are generally the best ones, but because it’s absorbed through the skin, it’s important to read the label and make sure the product doesn’t contain more than 10% deet.

-- Warn your family when standing near a frozen river or lake. In early spring, the ice is beginning to thaw, increasing the risk of drowning or falling into freezing water.

When mowing lawn:

-- Make sure to rake before mowing, to keep stones and debris from launching into the air. -- Wear proper eye protection, and avoid using loose clothing and open shoes.

-- Check equipment before starting, and fuel up only when the engine is cool and off. Also, place blade guards on all trimming and cutting equipment.

When cleaning or repairing the house:

-- Keep any household and pool chemicals, poisons, paint and cleaning products out of the reach of children at all times. Try to do chores that involve these products when the kids are under adult supervision or away from home.

-- Use the ladder carefully. Read the manufacturer’s instructions, inspect before using, and verify that the ladder is the right height for the job.

-- When moving furniture, place them away from windows and accessible drapery cords; also, keep traffic areas free of clutter at all times to avoid tripping and injuries.

In addition to offering these helpful tips, AP9 24ProtectPlus can help families with their home improvement projects; legal and financial advice; medical records storage, and other key safeguards. Whenever families require savings and safety information, they can count on 24 Protect Plus.

DealMax Rallying Cry: “Spring into Cleaning Mode a Little Early”

DealMax (SM), a multi-tiered discount shopping program from Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, knows that once Groundhog Day has come and gone, spring cleaning often takes center stage. Things in and around the house can take a beating during the winter months, so it pays to have an easy-to-use spring cleaning plan in mind. This way, when the real spring weather finally hits, it’ll be that much easier to get all the old, stuffy air out and let all the clean, crisp air back in.

Neglecting home upkeep during the winter months seems, well, about par for the course. And, come spring, that’s just where an effective cleaning regimen and home maintenance program can lead — out of the garage, back yard or attic and straight to the golf course or open-air locale.

So even though the calendar may still read “winter,” AP9*DealMax can help kick-start those springtime dreams into high gear, with these handy cleaning tips:

-- Give in to gravity. Start cleaning at the top of room, and then work on down. Think about it; dirt, grime and dust can’t travel up a wall. Clean top-to-bottom, and just follow gravity’s lead.

-- Kill the clutter. Keeping things clean probably works best as a year-round undertaking. This way, when spring fever really hits, it’ll be time to hit the beach or the open road — instead of pounding out the mats and rounding up the dust balls.

-- Run the fast break. No, AP9 DealMax isn’t suggesting that it’s time to set up a hoop somewhere in the house; but putting a basket in the kitchen or common area is a great way to keep track of mail, newspapers and those easy-to-lose car keys. Yep, those keys — the same ones that will drive the family car or boat right out into the sun of a not-too-distant-future spring day.

-- Pick up before “knock off.” There’s nothing worse than starting a day off in disarray — amidst a sea of unfolded laundry, a debris-ridden den and everyone’s favorite: a pile of dirty dishes. Make it a point to get everything squared away the night before. It’ll make for better slumber.

-- It’s a family affair. Singer/songwriter Sly Stone (born Sylvester Stewart) had it right. Making spring cleaning a “family affair” can make all the difference. Delegate responsibilities, and get the entire family involved.

AP9 DealMax offers these handy cleaning tips to help make spring what it’s supposed to be — a return to the “outside” world after a long winter. So before spring gets here, get an early start. And then celebrate spring’s return in style — with a little help from DealMax.