ORDER YOUR BOOKS NOW FOR CHRISTMAS J. We're Taking Orders Now From Our 1980 Catalogue Order Your Books in Plenty Of Time... Ordering Through Dec. 17 We're Your Headquarters For: •HARDBACK Books •PAPERBACK Books •CHILDREN'S Books STOP IN FOR YOUR FREE CATALOGUE PAGE IB • PLAIN DEALER - FRIDAY. OCTOBER 31. II SPEND WISELY Budgeting eases holiday spending OPIN: MON SAT 9 6 FRI TILL 7 HBoo&mazI 3438 W. ELM 385-8444 It's that time! For holi day shopping, that is. Be kind to yourself this year to avoid excesses in spending. Spend according to a plan. Or, if short on cash, give gifts that cost little or nothing. Then there'll be no surprises when bills come due. Get a handle on your fi nancial situation by estimat ing your expenses and com paring them with your disposable income to see how much you can afford to spend on gifts. Divide this amount by the number of people on your list If you will not be spending an equal amount on each, add and subtract accordingly. Will the money you have to spend be available when you shop -- cash -- or later -- credit? Controlling cash expenditures is easy -- you stop when the money is gone. But avoid carrying large amounts with yon and keep all receipts in case of returns or complaints. Keep a running list of ail |Lay-n-Way^ THE LOWEST PRKfl FUU-FEATliRL •Bnckrysial •SEVER. Bring home all the real excite ment ol scanning, and save! Bearcat 160 features a smooth, keyless keyboard for all controls including volume and squelch. Has 5-band, 16 channel coverage Priority, Selective Scan Delay. Automatic Lockout and Search And much more Bearcat is number one in scanning. TAKE FT ROM A SMART OPRATOR: 299. 95 Elicira Company I Owoon ot Masco Corp 0< Indiana 815-385-4444 MUSIC ELECTRONICS SINCE 1964 AREAS' LARGEST STORE FEATURING THE FINEST IN NAME BRAND EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES Rf. 31 4 120 McNENRY, ILL. Across from Jewel Food credit commitments as you make then, not only at each store but the overall totals. Then monthly payments shouldn't exceed the limit you've set Be sure you understand the terms of any contracts you sign, know how much youll be paying in interest and hold onto any contracts and charge slips. Comparison shop before leaving home by using ads, consumer rating magazines and catalogs. List what you want (sizes, colors, etc.), where to look and the maxi mum you can spend. When ever possible, call ahead to make sure the stores stock the items wanted. Are you lacking time and inspiration? Consider giving plants, magazine subscrip tions, tickets for concerts, plays or sporting events, gift certificates for food outlets -- even a cleaning service. If you simply do not have money to spend, invest what you do have -- time, skills, talents, energy -- in person al gifts. Present handwritten gift certificates to the spe cial people in you life, enti tling them to ... whatever you decide. Here are some possibili ties. For those with a flair for doing hair, consider giv ing some haircuts, sots or a home perm. If you have tew ing skills, offer to make a garment in the pattern and fabric of the receiver's choice. If mechanically in clined, present a tune-up as a present Are you lacking in skills but have plenty of free time? House-ait during a friend's vacation, provide pet-sitting services, make housecalls on plants. Any mother would wel come three or four after noons of baby-sitting. Take the children on the day of a party or clean her house. Give certificates for a car wash or wax or a garage clean-up. Like to bake? Offer cakes, pies or your own dessert spe cialty for two or three occa sions in 1981. For the more ambitious, there's the super- gift -- a certificate entitling the bearer to a complete dinner party in his or her apartment or home -- pre pared and served by you! Perhaps you'd prefer to give cooking lessons or instruc tions in macrame or car maintenance. You fill in the blank. Ideally, one has the option of investing either money or Skills in gifts. If you do not have that luxury this year, be sure to allot money for them in future spending plans -- beginning now! Joyce Bryant vice presi dent-director of the Money Management Institute, urges consumers to start thinking about the *81 holidays on your ribbons, gift wrap, tags and decorations when they're marked down," says Bryant "And if you keep to a plan, you can pur chase gifts throughout the year, often at sale prices. In this way, the financial and shopping burdens will be spread out evenly." If you would like to shop and spend more effectively year-round, write for a copy of YOUR SHOPPING DOL LAR, a new booklet for con sumers from teens to re tirees. Send SO cents with your name and address to the Money Management In stitute, Household Finance Corp., 2700 Sanders Road, Prospect Heights, 111. €0070. Thoughtful gift It's a simple matter to purchase a gift from your fa vorite store at Christmas time, but often such gifts have little meaning. Much mm indicative of your feelings toward that special parson is the gift of yourself, through thoughtful rendering of service in an appropriate way. -- MAGI GIFT Frankincense and myrrh -- gifts of the Magi to the Infant Christ -- are fragrant gum resins that come from two trees, native to only two parts of the world, northern Somalia and southern Ara bia. -- TRAILERS ARE OUR SPECIALTY! See McHenry's Trailer Specialists For All Types Of Trailers And Trailer Accessories... Reese Hitch Distributor ADAMS ENTERPRISES 3017 W. IH. 120 R. HI. (815)385-5970 twwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwuwwwwE