Your Holiday Survival Checklist

By Indra Books

Admit it! You promised this year was not going to be like the last few, but yet you are already feeling that holiday anxiety. The TO DO list even if unwritten seems to be growing by the day right along side the gift list. If the holidays are stressful and you start to wish they didn’t come each year then you are doing something wrong and you need to regroup. Not to worry...we are here to help!

If you don't have a TO DO list and are just swirling around, STOP...and make a list. Categorize your list...you know...organize it by types of tasks.

If at this point you are already overwhelmed, do not proceed to step 4.

Call ON THE GO 4 U (or a local concierge in your area) right now. Assign time limits to the tasks. Similar tasks (that's why we categorized) can probably be knocked off at one time. Make a schedule. You know your daily routines. Now add the TO DO list tasks to the routine. If at this point you see no way to schedule another thing in your day: a) refer to our November article "Don't be a Statistic", b) Call ON THE GO 4 U (or a local concierge in your area) right now and c) do not proceed to Step 7 because help is on the way.

OK, now you have the list and the schedule. Stick to it! The easiest way for things to fall apart is for you to get sidetracked.

Things for your TO DO list that you may have forgotten:

Holiday Cards

Stamps (purchase now if you want themed ones)
All mailing should be done no later than Dec 18 to avoid the rush and additional shipping costs.

Holiday Open House or Party

Consider having an after the holidays party...people need a break and some fun in Jan/Feb. Invitations should be sent 3 weeks in advance of the event.

Office/School Gifts

Wrapping Supplies (Paper, Ribbon, Tape, Labels)
Decorations

Remember to put on the tunes, stay relaxed and enjoy what is supposed to be a joyous season, not a chore.

Now that you have these holiday tips, we hope that your holiday is safe and sane.

Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles, is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The company’s creed is to provide its clients with the ultimate life management experience.

In addition to its shopping and concierge services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops on wardrobe, entertaining and decorating. For more information about the author and ON THE GO 4 U, please visit http://www.onthego4u.net.

© 2005 Indra A Books for ON THE GO 4 U

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How To Buy An MP3 Player

By Gary Hendricks

Are you looking for an MP3 player but am not sure which type and model to buy? There is a wide variety of MP3 players out there, from flash memory based players to hard drive based players. Choosing a good player from the market is no easy task. What features should you look for? What are the key considerations? This article aims to answer those questions and more. Now, let’s see how we can pick the perfect MP3 player.

Types of MP3 player

There are essentially four types of MP3 players in the market today. These include flash-based players, hard-drive based players and MP3 CD players. Let’s look at them in turn.

Flash-based MP3 players

Flash-based MP3 players have a flash memory chip built-in. They tend to be very tiny, ultra-portable and have no moving parts. As a user, you can do all your sports activities without worrying about your music skipping a beat. The downside to flash players is their high cost per megabyte. These players range from 32MB to 2GB, and the most popular models tend to be those from the Creative Muvo line, the iRiver iFP series and more recently, the Apple iPod Shuffle.

Hard-drive based MP3 players

Hard-drive based MP3 players use a 1.8-inch hard disk drive to store your music. The hard disk can hold large amounts of music – we’re talking about 10GB and above. If you have a large music library and want to store tons of music, a hard-drive based MP3 player is the way to go. The cost per megabyte is very low. The downside? Well, due to the hard disk drive, which has moving parts, these players are not suited for rough physical activity or extreme sports. One of the most popular MP3 players in this category is the Apple iPod, which is selling like hot cakes out there.

Micro hard-drive based MP3 players

More recently, manufacturers have come up with micro hard-drive based MP3 players like the Apple iPod Mini, Creative Zen Micro and Rio Carbon. Featuring a smaller hard drive (which still gives ample storage space of about 4 to 5 GB), they have a much more compact design compared to full fledged hard disk players. The few models mentioned above are selling like crazy too.

MP3 CD players

MP3 CD players are another type of MP3 player. These units look and feel like regular CD players. You can burn up to 150 MP3 songs to fill one CD-R disc, then play it on the unit. The disadvantage of such players is their large size and their tendency to skip if jostled.

Key Features of MP3 Players

Having looked at the different types of MP3 players, let’s look at the key features of an MP3 player.

Size and weight: If you’re looking to bring your MP3 player on trips or on sporting activities, a small compact design is very important. In such cases, you should go for a small flash based player or one of the micro hard drive players.

Storage capacity: This is an important factor too. If you need to store your whole music library into the MP3 player, then you probably need a hard drive based player with 10GB of storage or above. If you only want a few select songs to listen to on the subway, then a flash based player would suffice. Do take note that some players offer expansion slots in the form of CompactFlash or SD cards.

Battery Life: This is often overlooked. Battery life is a very important consideration, especially if you’re out with your player and have no way to recharge. Hard disk players tend to have lithium-ion rechargeable batteries while some flash players offer AAA battery support. I personally own a Creative MuVo Micro N200 which uses AAA batteries. This is great for me because once it runs out, I can just pop in a new one – no hassles about finding some electrical socket to recharge.

Connectivity Options: The way the MP3 player connects to your computer is also an important factor. The latest models tend to support high-speed USB 2.0 transfers. The better ones like the Apple iPod also give Firewire support.

File Format Support: You will most likely be wanting to play MP3 songs on your player. However, if you want to listen to a wider variety of music files, like WMA or OGG Vorbis, then make sure you see it in the player specs.

Other Considerations

Many of the latest players also include features I’ve not covered in the above. For example, some players come with a built-in FM tuner, which is very useful if you get tired of your MP3 music. Other have a built-in voice recorder which allows you to record audio as WAV files.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many considerations to think about when purchasing an MP3 player. To get the most suitable player, you want to think about how you will use the player. Usage should drive your purchase decision. The other thing to take note of is to shop around, both online and offline – compare prices before shelling out the cash. Good luck hunting for that MP3 player!

Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site on digital photography.
Visit his website at http://www.digital-music-guide.com for tips and tricks on selecting MP3 players, music services and music software.

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Home Buying Tip: 7 Key Questions to Ask a Home Inspector

By Brandon Cornett

This home buying tip will help you ask the right questions when researching home inspectors.

A proper home inspection will give you the comfort of knowing your new home has been checked for breakage, disrepair and other problems.

But it all starts with choosing a professional home inspector who can give your home the thorough review it needs. So don't be afraid to ask plenty of questions when choosing a home inspector. Here are seven key questions to ask:

1. What all do you inspect? Different states have different rules for home inspectors. So you need to know up front what your state requires of inspectors, and then you need to make sure the inspector will actually cover those areas. Ask to see a blank copy of their inspection report or checklist. This will show you exactly what the inspector covers. If they have a problem showing you this document, find another home inspector!

2. What certifications do you have? Like other home-based industries, home inspection has its share of frauds and phonies. It's safe to assume they represent the minority, but it still pays to ask about certification. A professional home inspector will be happy to tell you about his certifications.

3. Do you specialize in residential or commercial inspections? Be sure your inspector specializes in what you want him to do. In this case, make sure they specialize in residential / home inspections (instead of commercial property inspections).

4. How long have you been inspecting homes in this area? General experience is fine, but regional or local experience gives a home inspector an extra edge. For instance, if an inspector has been working in your area for a long time, they probably know about unique conditions to watch for (radon levels, basement moisture, life expectancy of roofing, etc.).

5. How long do your home inspections usually take? * Home buying tip -- The average home inspection runs anywhere from two to four hours. If a home inspector tells you they can do it in an hour or less, you might want to dig a little deeper. Anything less than two hours is probably not a thorough inspection.

6. How much will the inspection cost? * Home buying tip -- Home inspections average between $300 and $500. This will depend on the size of the home and other factors. The cost of a home inspection is nominal when you consider the peace of mind it brings, but you still need to ask about the cost in advance. You don’t want to be surprised by an outrageously priced inspection after it has been completed.

7. Can I attend the inspection? A home inspection is a great opportunity to learn about the inner workings of your home. Many home inspectors will let you proceed through the house alongside them. That way, they can educate you about your roof, heating and cooling system, water heater, etc.

Conclusion This home buying tip will help you choose a professional, qualified home inspector. As a result, you’ll get a more thorough review of the home before buying it, and you’ll enjoy more peace of mind!

* Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. Learn more!
This home buying tip was brought to you by HomeBuyingInstitute.com, the Internet's largest library of home buying advice. Increase your home buying intelligence by visiting: http://www.homebuyinginstitute.com/!
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