Planning a holiday party can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be.  Having a "to-do" list to follow makes it easy.

2-3 Weeks Before

• Create your guest list and mail or email invitations
• Plan your menu and make a list of the ingredients you'll need to purchase.  Buy nonperishable items.
• Purchase decorations or take them out of storage and decorate your home.
• Prepare dishes and desserts that can be frozen and reheated.
• Choose your favourite holiday songs and create your playlist.

1 Week Before

• Follow up with guests that haven't responded.  For a potluck, verify the dishes your guests are bringing.
• Clean the house or hire a cleaning service to give it a thorough cleaning.
• Stock up on beverages.
• Decorate the bathroom with candles, holiday scented soaps and hand towels, re-stock toilet paper, and remove any items you don't want guests stumbling upon.
• Make room in a closet or bedroom for guests' coats.
• Let your neighbours know that you'll be having a party.

2-3 Days Before

• Buy the remaining groceries, including perishable items.
• Arrange your furniture and tables.
• Remove any items that are fragile or valuable.
• Sweep or shovel the front walk and porch.

1 Day Before

• Pick up fresh flowers and other fresh decorative items.  Place flower arrangements throughout the party space.
• Set the tables.
• Tidy up the house.

Day of the Party

• Finish last-minute cooking and warm/assemble pre-made or frozen dishes.
• Set out appetizers that won't spoil.
• Chill white and sparkling wines.
• Light candles, put on music.
• Welcome your guests, offer them appetizers and drinks and have fun.

The fall brings cooler temperatures, shorter days and more time indoors.  For people with indoor allergies, spending extended amounts of time inside can be a wheezy and sneezy experience.  Allergies to dust, mold and pets tend to worsen in the fall and winter due to the amount of time we spend indoors. However, alleviating allergy symptoms is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Know Where Allergens Lurk

The bedroom: Dust mites andother allergens love to live on pillows, bedding and curtains.

The living room: Dust mites also find a home on fans, in the fireplace and on your upholstery.

The bathroom: Mold grows best in dank environments such as your shower, sink and around the toilet.

The kitchen: Mold can also grow around your vaucets, refrigerator, dishwashers and garbage bins.

Canadians spend up to 90% of their time indoors.

*Source:  The Globe and Mail, April 2011

Keep your air dry to reduce dust mites. Use your air conditioning to keep humidity down or buy a dehumidifier.  Aim to keep the humidity in your home at around 30-50%.

Purchase impermeable mattress covers and pillows to keep dust mites from making ahome in your bedding.  Wash bedding once a week in hot water and put it in the dryer on the hot cycle to kill existing dust mites.

Dust with a damp cloth or dust mop. Vacuum furniture and rugs once a week with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth.

Keep everything dry: it only takes 48 hours for mold to start growing. Run a mop around the refrigerator, sinks and toilets with mild dish soap and diluted hydrogen peroxide to prevent mold growth and make sure you fix any leaks in your plumbing.

10% of Canadians are allergic to cats.

3. Keep Fluffy at Bay

If fluffly pets are at the root of your allergies, keep it out of the bedroom and be sure to keep your home clean.

• Wear a dust mask to vacuum the home since vacuuming kicks up allergens.
• Cover bedroom vents with filtering material such as cheesecloth, to prevent allergens from other rooms from coming into the bedroom.
• Use an air cleaner with a HEPA filter for at least 4 hours each day.
• Keep your pet clean.

*Souce Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

The fall brings cooler temperatures, shorter days and more time indoors.  For people with indoor allergies, spending extended amounts of time inside can be a wheezy and sneezy experience.  Allergies to dust, mold and pets tend to worsen in the fall and winter due to the amount of time we spend indoors. However, alleviating allergy symptoms is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Know Where Allergens Lurk

The bedroom: Dust mites andother allergens love to live on pillows, bedding and curtains.

The living room: Dust mites also find a home on fans, in the fireplace and on your upholstery.

The bathroom: Mold grows best in dank environments such as your shower, sink and around the toilet.

The kitchen: Mold can also grow around your vaucets, refrigerator, dishwashers and garbage bins.

Canadians spend up to 90% of their time indoors.

*Source:  The Globe and Mail, April 2011

Keep your air dry to reduce dust mites. Use your air conditioning to keep humidity down or buy a dehumidifier.  Aim to keep the humidity in your home at around 30-50%.

Purchase impermeable mattress covers and pillows to keep dust mites from making ahome in your bedding.  Wash bedding once a week in hot water and put it in the dryer on the hot cycle to kill existing dust mites.

Dust with a damp cloth or dust mop. Vacuum furniture and rugs once a week with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth.

Keep everything dry: it only takes 48 hours for mold to start growing. Run a mop around the refrigerator, sinks and toilets with mild dish soap and diluted hydrogen peroxide to prevent mold growth and make sure you fix any leaks in your plumbing.

10% of Canadians are allergic to cats.

3. Keep Fluffy at Bay

If fluffly pets are at the root of your allergies, keep it out of the bedroom and be sure to keep your home clean.

• Wear a dust mask to vacuum the home since vacuuming kicks up allergens.
• Cover bedroom vents with filtering material such as cheesecloth, to prevent allergens from other rooms from coming into the bedroom.
• Use an air cleaner with a HEPA filter for at least 4 hours each day.
• Keep your pet clean.

*Souce Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

1. Sell Your Stuff Online

Don't let unwanted or unused items to continue to clutter your home. Whether you use Ebay, Craigslist, Kijiji or another website, it's easy to sell gently used items online.

• Post several digital images of the items along with a detailed description.
• Look at similar items on the website on which you're selling your items to get an idea of where you should price yours.
• If you're meeting the buyer in person, be sure to meet in a public location and accept only cash or cashier's cheque.

2. Turn a Hobby or Skill Into a Profitable Side Business

Are you a whiz at math or a foreign language, a master at turning a wrench or enjoy doing crafts?  You may be able to find part-time or contract work doing what you have a flair for.

• Share your knowledge by tutoring children, teens or college students.
• If you have specialized knowledge of mechanics or home improvement, become the neighbourhood repairman.
• If your home is full of crafts, consider selling them online or at craft fairs.
• If you're an expert in gardening, languages, sports or computers, consider teaching a class through your local community college or recreation centre.

3. Provide a Service

People are always looking for reliable folks to walk their dogs or watch their children.  If you're great with children or pets, consider becoming a babysitter or dog walker.  Both are good options for extra cash and you don't have to feel obligated to accept a job if you're busy.

Sell

To a Buy-Back Website

Online resellers such as SellyourElectornics.ca allow you to sell your old electronics for cash, or recycle them if they aren't worth anything.  Once you receive a free quote online, print a pre-paid shipping label and mail your gadgets to the reseller.

On eBay or Cragslist

Many people turn to theese popular websites to sell a variety of items. eBay has partnered with the Rethink Initiative to help you sell, donate or recycle your old technology.

Back to the Manufacturer

Many manufacturers, including Apple, Sony, Toshiba and Hewlett-Packard Offer trade-in programs that will pay market value for your computers and equipment, depending on the condition of these items.  Visit the manufacturer's websites for more information.

Donate

Many non-profit organizations accept donations of electronic devices, especially computers and office equipment.  Organizations such as reBOOT Canada (www.rebootcanada.ca) and Computers for Schools (www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cfs-ope.nsf/eng/home) provide refurbished computers to charities and schools across the country.

Things to Remember Before Donating

• Be sure to erase any private informaiton from the hard drive.
• Call the receiving organization to make sure they will acept the type and condition of electronics you with to donate.
• Write down what you donated; you may be eligible to write off a portion of the value of the items at tax time.  Contact the Canada Revenue Agency for details.

Many cities host annual eWaste collection drives.  Contact your town's public works department to see when the next one is scheduled.

Recycle

Since electronics are made of precious metals and hazardous materials, it's dangerous to send them to landfills.  Electronics recycling recovers the usable materials from the device and safely disposes of the hazardous waste.  Visit the Electronic Recycling Association website (www.era.ca) for more information.

Internet sites such as eBay, Kijiji and Craigslist have made it easier to sell the stuff you don't want or no longer use.  If your items are still in good condition, there may be a market for them online.  While the Internet may be a convenient place to sell items you no longer want or need, it's important to take precautions to ensure a safe transaction.

7 Tips For a Quick and Safe Sale:

1. Prepare Your Items For Sale

Wash or dry clean clothing and spruce up furniture with a bit of paint or upholstery cleaner.  If you're selling electronic devices, be sure to delete your informaiton fromthem to prevent identity theft.

2. Price The Items Right

Check the website you'll be selling the items on to see what other sellers are asking for similar items.  This will help you gauge an accurate price for the item an dallow you to make a quick sale.

3. Take Photos

Most online buyers will not buy an item unless they can see photos of it first.  If possible, post several photos from different angles to give prospective buyers an accurate visual description of the item.

4. Write An Honest Description

People expect a normal amount ofwear and tear; however, if the object shows signs of excessive use, don't say that it's "brand new" or "like new".  Provide an outline of the features, measurements/size and any other pertinent information.

5. Take Precautions

Many websites provide sellers with an anonymous email address.  Agree tomeet interested buyers in a busy public place during the daytime.  Let a family member or friend know where you're meeting or bring someone with you to increase your sense of safety.

6. Only Accept Cash

Never accept a cheque - if it bounces, you lose the money and may face steep bank fees.

7. Remove the Item From the Site

Once it is sold, immediately remove the item from the site.

1. Follow your favourite airlines on Twitter

Many airlines offer exclusive deals and last-minute savings to their followers.  Or, enrol  in the airlines' frequent flyer program to receive specials and promotional deals via email.

2. Use online tools to your advantage

FareWatcher Plus ^TM from Travelocity allows you to track up to ten routes and receive notification when the fares increase or decrease by $25, or fall below a price that you set.  Similarly, you can track flights to your destination with tripadvisor.com/flights and receive an alert when prices drop.

If you want to get away and don't have a specific destination in mind, check SkyScanner or Kayak's Explore feature, which allow you to type "everywhere" into your search destination to reveal deals to destinations around the world.

3. Check fares several times a day

Airfares can rise or fall at any time of day.  Although fares are often released every Monday and Tuesday, there isn't a day where flights are cheapest.  If you're travelling during a peak holiday time, consider extending your vacation by a few days to take advantage of lower fares on the days leading up to or following the peak time.

4. Book early for the cheapest fares

If you know your travel dates three to six months ahead of time, you can often lock into lower fares.

5. Consider adding a hotel to your package

You can often save money if you purchase your airfare and hotel as a package, particularly if you're booking last-minute travel.

When comparing prices, always take into account taxes and extra fees, such as baggage fees.  Taxes can often double the price, making that seemingly cheap fare to Europe not a great deal at all.

Did you know that a leak of one drop of water per second can waste nearly 10,000 litres of water per year?  Save money and water by staying on top of wear, tear and repairs.  Here are some quick fixes to common bathroom problems.

A Screeching Faucet

If your faucet sings to you as you turn the knob, you may need to fix the rubber washer.  You can buy an inexpensive kit at most hardware stores.  However, if your faucet is old, the screeching may be its final swan song.  Replace the whole faucet instead.

If it'll be a day or two before you get around to replacing the washer in your dripping faucet, tie a long piece of string around the mouth of the faucet.  That way, the water runs down the string into the drain instead of dripping loudly into the sink.

The Stream of Water Spits Instead of Flows

Your aerator, the screw-on screen at the tip of the faucet, may need to be cleaned.  Unscrew the aerator and clean the mineral deposits that have accumulated over time.  If it's completely clogged with crusted deposits, you can purchase an inexpensive new aerator from the local hardward store or home centre.

The Toilet Won't Stop Running

The most common cause of a leaky toilet is a worn flapper valve.  If your toilet is constantly running, the flapper is more than likely to blame.  However, before you replace it, check to see that there isn't another culprit.

* Inspect the area around the flapper valve and remove any mineral deposits that may have collected around the rim.

* Make sure the chain is the correct length - if it's too short, the valve won't close properly.

* Check to ensure that there's nothing impeding the valve from closing, such as the dispenser for the toilet bowl cleaner.

A Dripping Toilet Tank

While some sweat on the toilet tank is normal, dripping may indicate a leak.  To find out if your toilet is leaking, squirt a few drops of food colouring into the tank.  If the colour shows up on the floor, look for cracks on the tank or loose connections going into tank.

Remember to call a licensed plumber if you have a more complicated plumbing problem.

*Source Environment Canada

Mobile computing allows you to store documents, photos, video and more within the cloud.  However, many people have been hesitant to do so because of security concerns. The good news is that security is becoming stronger as mobile computing continues to grow and transform the way we live and do business.

5 Tips to Keep Your Information Safe

1. Create strong passwords that use a combination of letters, symbols and numbers.  To boost security, use a phrase or sentence that you're sure to remember or use the first letters of each word in a favourite quote.

2. Never use the same password on all of the sites you visit.

3. Don't store personal information, such as your password or credit card information, on your computer tablet or smart phone, or on a website that you visit frequently.

4. Install anti-virus software, which will protect your computer and personal information from passing along viruses or spyware in the event of a hack.

5. Make sure that a website is secure.  Look for a padlock at the bottom of the web window or look at the address bar to make sure that the web address begins with "https."

If your personal information has been compromised, contact the police and your financial institution an dput a fraud alert on your accounts.

*2012 Buffini and Company.  All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.

Since many home buyers are window shopping for homes on the internet before visiting the property in person, professional quality photos are a necessity.  Capture the attention of potential buyers with these three simple tips:

1. Bring out your home's best features with great lighting

Lighting often sets the mood for buyers to imagine themselves living in the home.  Open your curtains to allow natural light from the outside to illuminate the best parts of the home's interior.

2. Clear the clutter

Move very large non-essential furniture and decor to another room or into storage to give buyers a better view of each room.  You want to emphasize the great features of the space itself, not bury it in stuff.

3. Focus on areas of the home that make it stand apart from others on the market

If you have a bright and sunny breakfast nook, a remodelled kitchen, a spa-style master bathroom or picturesque views from your living room, be sure to highlight these areas in the great photos that are posted with the listing.

The impression created by the home's online listing is your chance to entice buyers to check itout in person.  Speak with your real estate professional to learn more.

Buffini and Com[any.  All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.