Contents

Contents

TITLE PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

HALF TITLE

INTRODUCTION

1  Personal Safety

How to Avoid Being a Victim

If Your Wallet Is Stolen

Important Numbers to Keep by Your Phone

Everyday Burglar-Proofing for Your Home

Securing Your Home While You’re Away

Best and Worst Places to Hide Valuables

Common Home Accidents and How to Avoid Them

Top Twenty Safety Items for Your Home

What to Keep in Your Medicine Cabinet

What to Keep in a First Aid Kit

What to Keep in a Disaster Kit

2  Getting Organized

Records and Documents You Need at Home

What to Keep in Your Safe Deposit Box

Nine Steps to Organize Your File Cabinet

Nine Steps to Organize Your Workspace

Say Cheese! How to Organize Your Photographs

Nine Steps to Organize Your Clothes Closet

3  Stocking Up

Kitchen Equipment: What to Have on Hand

Dinner from Thin Air: A Kitchen Pantry Checklist

Stocking a Linen Closet

A Sewing Kit for Basic Repairs

A Reference Library

4  Home Maintenance

Fall Maintenance Checklist

Spring Maintenance Checklist

The Do-It-Yourselfer’s Toolkit

Tricks of the Trade: How to Avoid Calling a Repairman

How to Hire a Contractor or Roofer

How to Shop for a Major Appliance

5  Housework and Other Emergencies

Bare Minimum Housework: From Pigsty to Presentable in Six Steps

Cleaning Supplies

Checklist for Spring Cleaning

How to Do a Load of Laundry (So You’ll Recognize It Afterward)

How to Remove Stains

6  Flowers and Plants: Checklists for Brown Thumbs

Hardy Houseplants

First Aid for Dying Plants

Easy-to-Grow Vegetables and Flowers

Basic Gardening Tools

7  Social Life

Tips for Throwing a Party

Rules of Thumb for Food and Drink

The Well-Stocked Bar

Hosting Houseguests

Creating a Cozy Guest Room

How to Be a Great Guest

Gift-Giving Tips

Stress-Free Holiday Giving

Foreign Phrases You Should Know

Tips on Tipping: Who, When, How Much

How to Pack a Picnic

8  Correspondence

A Stationery Wardrobe: Paper for Every Occasion

Writing Thank-You Notes

Writing Letters of Condolence

Writing Effective Complaint Letters

9  Dealing with Death

What to Do When Someone Dies

Ten Facts You Should Know About the Death Care Business

10  Children (For Those Who Only Borrow Them!)

Childproofing Your Home

Baby Gifts They’ll Drool Over

Ten Ways to Entertain Kids on a Rainy Day

What to Leave for a Babysitter

11  Moving

Choosing a Realtor

Preparing Your Home for Sale

Choosing a House or Apartment

Choosing a Mover

Countdown to Moving Day

Checklist for a Packing Kit

What to Take When the Movers Take the Rest

12  Travel

How to Choose a Travel Agent

How to Pack for a Trip

What to Pack in Your Carry-on

Before You Go Abroad: What You Need

Extras to Pack When You Travel Abroad

Questions to Ask Before You Book a Hotel Room

Checklists for Staying Safe at a Hotel

13  Health

Choosing a Primary Care Physician

Over-Forty Checkups: What You Need When

How to Join a Gym Without Straining Your Wallet

How to Choose a Health Club You’ll Use

Ten Ways to Get Exercise Without Being Miserable

14  The Law

When to Call a Lawyer

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Lawyer

Preparing for Traffic Court

Preparing for Small Claims Court

15  Your Money

How to Choose a Bank

How to Balance Your Checkbook

Questions to Ask Before You Choose an Accountant

Questions to Ask Before You Choose a Financial Planner

Choosing a Method for Stock Trading

Choosing a Credit Card

Choosing a Charity

End-of-the-Year Tax Strategies

Frequently Overlooked Tax Deductions

How to Buy Homeowner’s Insurance

How to Do a Home Inventory

16  Professional Life

Ten Tips for Effective Networking

The Perfect Presentation: How to Prepare

Smart Strategies for Business Trips

17  Your Computer

Computer Shopping Tips

Computer Lingo

How to Be Friends with Your Computer

E-mail Etiquette

Protecting Your Computer from Viruses

18  Your Car

What to Carry in Your Car

Car Maintenance Checklist

How to Find a Good Mechanic

What to Do in an Accident

Before You Talk to a Car Dealer

Car Insurance: A Rate Reduction Checklist

CONCLUSION

RESOURCES

COPYRIGHT