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Page IS The Claringlon/Courticc Independent, Bowmanvillc, Saturday, December 5, 1998 Gift Guide '98 Tips To Avoid Bill-Paying Blues Have you been setting aside money each month in a jar or special Christmas savings account? If your Christmas cheer turns to Christmas doom when you begin paying your holiday credit card bills in January, you're not alone. When the bows, wrapping paper and gifts are put away, many Canadians simply can't pay for their credit card purchases. Here arc some tips to keep yourself from wondering wondering how you're going to get through the season without going into debt: •Decide how much you can really afford to spend on holiday gift-giving this year. Take some time to determine what your spending limits should be ' instead of running to the mall with a wallet full of credit cards. •Shop aimed with cash only-this avoids impulse buying commonly associated associated with credit cards. •Decide how much you can afford to spend on each person, and stick to it. Then, when you're shop ping, you'll know your spending limit for each gift. •If you must consider a layaway plan for a largcr- ticket item, budget to do it in no more than four affordable installments so it is paid for before Christmas. •Shop alone, armed with a realistic list with spending limitations and stick to it. •Keep track of your purchases. Write down the amount of every purchase you make, which credit card you put it on and who will receive the gift. You may want to consider entering the purchase in your chequebook register as though you had paid cash for it to closely monitor monitor your spending. When January rolls around, you will 'know just what to expect on your credit card bills. Plus, you'll be able to budget better next year. •Be a savvy shopper. Take advantage of sales and outlet malls. Beware of deferred payment plans that have become so popular popular with retailers. Many of these "Buy now and no payments until..." plans start charging interest before the first payment is due. •Avoid crowded stoics and ntalls-map out your store list, so as to not get caught up in the holiday "fever" this atmosphere tends to generate. •If you must use your credit cards, put all of your holiday credit card purchases purchases on one card. This will help you track your spending better and you won't be juggling payments payments when your January bills arrive. •Consider giving handmade handmade items at a fraction of the cost. These often mean more and last the longest: sewing, knitting, crochet, artwork, woodwork, crafts, woodcarving, plants, photography, jams, jellies, baking-thc list is endless! •Give coupons offering your services: cleaning, cooking, repair, babysitting babysitting etc. Gifts of time arc never out of style. •Plan ahead for next year. 1999 Family Season Pass* at 1998 Prices $65.00 includes taxes On Sale Now For more information or to order a Family Pass call the Zoo, 623-5655, As a Bowmanvillc Zoo Family Season Pass member, you hold a pass to a season of unlimited admission to the exciting entertaining and educational animal world of the Bowmanville Zoo. *Consists of mother, father and up to 4 children under 16 years of age. Season May to October. Body fi Sole Wellness Centre, Esthetics & Spa 12 Pampering Holiday SPA PACKAGES 01X1 SALE NOW! Packages for: • Teens • Men & Women • Golden Gals Something for everyone.[ 623-SOLE (7653) 234 King St. East, Bowmanville If" ]&t x 1?*t t?*t Give the Gift of Video St This Christmas Doctor Doolittle The Mask of Zorro The Land Before Time VI The Parent Trap (1998) Madeline 5 Air Bud: Golden Receiver St The Secret of Nimh 2 (Pre-order any of the titles above and receive j? 1 FREE NEW RELEASE RENTAL. $5 deposit required) Nov. 24 Dec. 1 Dec. 1 Dec. 8 Dec. 15 Dec. 15 Dec. 22 $19.95 $19.95 $16.95 $19.95 $19.95 $16.95 $14.95 St sge? st St St St NOW IN STOCK Small Soldiers • Armageddon • Godzilla • Richie Rich's Christmas Wish • Don Cherry 10th Anniversary - The X-Files * • Lost in Space • Lion King 2 • An All Dogs Christmas Carol • Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames • Gone With The Wind • Quest for Camelot • Billboard Dad CHECK OUT OUR WEOSITE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF "VIDEOS FOR SALE: www.nhv.formovies.com St 1 St St BOWMfiNVILLE MfîLL 6Z3-9677 ©j.p. St Bumper to Bumper The Oshawa Shriners were a part of the annual Santa Claus Parade held in Bowmanvillc last month. ! U Overloaded Circuits Can Be A Serious Problem Outside lights will brighten up your house during the holiday season. But make sure not to overload overload your circuits-other- wise you might light up your house with flames. Many people make the mistake of plugging outdoor outdoor lights into standard household outlets. These outlets are often not powerful powerful enough for the lights, causing an unnecessary and dangerous strain on your electrical system. Consider installing a heavier line with a separate separate circuit specifically for the lights. The fuse is an electrical safety valve. If too much current passes through the fuse, a wire inside melts and stops the flow of current. current. When a fuse blows, it's a sign of danger. The line has cither been overloaded overloaded or there's a break in the wires along the line- in an appliance cord, a switch or inside the wall. •If you are blowing fuses repeatedly, don't just keep replacing them. Call in an electrical contractor to evaluate your system. •Never over-fuse, for example, by replacing a 15-amp fuse with a 30- amp fuse to try to meet an added power demand. Because 20- and 30-amp fuses are more powerful, people assume they are adding more power; however, however, the wiring is incapable incapable of accommodating the additional demand. •Almost all the fuses in your fuse box should be 15-amp. If there's a 20- or 30-amp fuse already in there, don't automatically replace it with the same amp fuse when it blows. The previous homeowner may have replaced a 15- amp fuse with a 30-amp and never corrected the mistake. •A dryer might take a 30-amp fuse and a stove a 40-amp, but these arc usually usually cartridge fuses, not the screw-in type. All others others should be 15-amp. •Also, never use a higher wattage light bulb than the fixture can accommodate (the maximum maximum is usually indicated on the fixture). •Plug applianecs-not just a refrigerator or microwave, but a kettle or frying pan-directly into the wall, never into an extension cord. •When you're renovating renovating your electrical system, putting up major new lighting or adding extra appliances to your circuits, circuits, don't forget to have your local power company or inspection authority check the work and your circuitry. ! Qfem-'b 98/99 at the Port Darlington Marina Thursday, December 31,1998 70 Port Darlington Road, Bowmanvillc In "THE BRIDGE" BANQUET HALL $60.00 per couple or $30.00 per person (tax included) 1 / Includes Balloons and Party Favours Cocktail Buffet at 11 and Champagne at Midnight "YELLOWJACKET SOUND" '• . , Spinning the Music to Your Requests , - . „ , Doors Open at 8:30 p.m. ■vA "f>'> ■„ \ " /( - In "THE MAIN DECK" v ; DININGROOM Our Famous New Year's Buffet and New Year's Eve Celebrations | First Seating at 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. - $29.95 per person (plus tax) I Second Seating at 8:00 p.m. - $35.95 per person (plus tax) All You Can Eat New Year's Buffet with Hot Table and Salad Bar \ -Featuring- , Roast of Beef, Turkey and Various Seafood Selections with all the New Year's Goodies -=a ; and Keyboard Music By "JOSH" . -jf 1 Reservations are Required " /yf fy Downstairs In "SHOOTERS" §f $20.00 Per Person (tax included) • I Includes Party Favours, Cocktail Buffet at 11:30 and Champagne at Midnight ROCK INTO THE NEW YEAR/ with live entertainment by "GROOVE CHICKEN" Kitchen Aid Microwave Oven Enjoy the convenience of a microwave plus browning and crisping action BUSINESS HOURS: Mon. ■ Fri. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m, Thurs. 9 a.m. ■ 8 p.m. Sal, 9 a.m, ■ 4 p.m. 263-8369 Inglis CITATION is the ideal combination of qualify and performance 1-800-798-5502 . Taunton Rd., Hampton (3 miles east ofi ù Courtice Rd.) 1 PADDY'S MARKET Tnunton fid, $ llwv. ! 15 1 X