Newspaper Page Text
MoneySmartwALEcu konrad
Surprise! You can haggle
on the Internet
Most people assume that bargaining
is best reserved for flea markets. But
these days, websites that sell everything
from mountain bikes to designer fash
ions are willing to give shoppers big
breaks if you’re smart enough to
ask for one.
Great wav's to haggle in cyberspace:
m <
Negotiating for^ v -r
a better price \
can work if
area ■ First, check compare
snopper ‘ son shopping engines
(such as Shopzilla, NexThg
and mySimon) to find various sellers’
prices on a specific item. You can use
this info as a bargaining chip.
■ Play favorites. Are you a loyal cus
tomer of one site because it offers a
good selection and free shipping? If
so, then when you find that mountain
bike elsewhere at a lower price, e-mail
or call the site’s customer service desk.
It may match the price if asked, but
many sites keep mum about such poli
cies to avoid lots of requests.
■ Already paid for the item, then found
it cheaper? Some retailers will match a
competitor’s price up to 14 days after
a sale, so keep your receipts.
t USA
WEEKEND
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4
USA WEEKEND • Nov. 9-11,2007
Smart
Parent By ANN PLESHETTE MURPHY
Kids, manners and Thanksgiving
H
CHALLENGE
Kids arrive cranky j Comfort is key for a lengthy car trip. Don’t dress the kids in their party clothes at home. Plan a pit stop
and crumpled. j a few minutes from your destination to change, or wait until you arrive to trade PJs for petticoats.
Kids either aren't hungry Schedule dinner as dose to their normal mealtime as possible. If your family's tradition is to serve
or are starving when the j the Thanksgiving meal at 3or 4 p.m„ feed the kids a snack around their usual lunchtime. Tell them
bird lands on the table. j they're expected to sit at the table and taste a few things even if they're not very hungry.
Picky eaters exclaim "Yuckl" Forget the “clean plate dub.” Don't ruin dinner by arguing over every bite. If you're worried about
at the sight of your sister's j offending the chef, tell your kids ahead of time to hold their tongues regarding the food, eat what they
broccoli casserole. j want and leave the rest. Explain to your host that you have an unadventurous eater on your hands.
Children are abandoned | Advocate for togetherness at the table, if you're hosting, set two tables with mixed generations,
at the “kids'table.' j Ask guests to bring photos of Thanksgivings past to share with their young table mates.
S Aunt Muriel comes at the kids } Don't mandate hugs and kisses. Explain to your kids that although they don't have to kiss every cousin,
with her bright red lipstick. j they are expected to shake hands, maintain eye contact and smile. Sulking on the couch is not OK.
Your shy child stays glued j Give siow-to-warm-up kids specific scripts and activities to use during the day. Try role playing
to your lap. j ahead of time to give your child practice at breaking the ice. Arm him with a favorite board game he can
V j play with his cousins. .
EitSmart jorge cruise
Curb that Charley horse
The severity of a muscle cramp can
vary from a nagging pain to an
unbearable tightness that stops you
dead in your tracks. Also known as a
“charley horse,” the cramp is a sud
den, painful, involuntary contraction
of skeletal muscles. It can strike in the
middle of exercise, during an athletic
event or in the middle of the night.
There’s no cure, but there are ways to
manage and even prevent them.
“Stretching of the affected muscles is
an effective initial therapy for cramps,”
says Javier Maquirriain, M.D., direc-
President & CEO • Marcia L. Bullard
Publisher • Charles Gabrielson
Executive Editor & VP • Jack Curry
SVP/Advertising • Rob Harrison
Dir./Finance • Edward Maxwell
DirJHuman Resources • Bhavna Sharma
Dir./Marketing • Sonia David
Dir./Research • Frank Dolcimascolo
To ask any USA WEEKEND columnist a question, visit usawaakand.com.
HELPFUL TIPS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
In addition to fun and family togetherness, Thanksgiving
can present a cornucopia of opportunities for your chil
dren’s manners to fly out the window. To ensure your holi
day isn’t for the birds, chart your way to better behavior:
Parenting expert Ann Pleshette MURPHY is a contributing editor.
HOW TO HANDLE IT
Managing Editor. Brenda Turner Creative Manager Casey Shaw
Senior Editors: Craigh Barboza. Pamela Brown (Make A Difference Day), Carol Clurman,
Constance Kurz. Lorrie Lynch, Priscilla Totten Copy Chief: Jill Golden Copy Editor Ali Cybulski
Senior Writer Dennis McCafferty Associate Editors: Michele Hatty, TJ. Walter
Assistant Editor Kathy Rowings Fact Checker Elena Keith ley
Editorial Assistant: Reyhaneh Fathieh Design Director Leon Lawrence 111
Art Director Pamela Taylor Associate Art Director Christina Cook
Senior Photo Editor David Baratz Deputy Photo Editor Sarah Claxton
Online: Amelia Stephenson Office Coordinator Troy Artis
■ /
v *
/
Stretching can
help to prevent
muscle cramps
during exercise
or at night.
tor of the High Performance National
Sports Centre in Buenos Aires.
- . The key to avoiding cramps
/ during exercise is to “prevent pre
mature fatigue,” Maquirriain says,
by “maintaining a well-balanced diet,
including carbohydrates and electro
lytes, and routinely conducting peri
odic stretching.” In the case of cramp
ing during exercise, he recommends
stopping the activity.
However, if you suffer repeated epi
sodes of muscle cramping that aren't
alleviated by stretching,
see your doctor. It “may
be a symptom of serious
conditions such as diabetes or vascular
problems,” Maquirriain says. C 3
Contributing Editors
Pam Anderson, Ken Bums, Jean Carper,
Stephen Covey, Jorge Cruise,
Steve Dale, Kenneth C. Davis,
Sharon Epperson, Dennie Hughes,
Walecia Konrad, Lisa Ling,
Lou Manfredini, Dr. Tedd Mitchell,
Ann Pleshette Murphy, Cokie Roberts,
Steve Roberts, Tavis Smiley,
Terry Shekels
FITSMAHT PHOTO JENF4FER CHEUNG. HJPfTIR
Regional Directors/
Newspapers
Charlie Williams
Taaz Williams
Lud Day
v Copyright 2007
USA WEEKEND.
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Printed in the USA.
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makes a difference.