Working as a professional organizer, I see both sides of the purchasing problem—homes cluttered with over-priced items—and the frustration caused by inferior products bought in a misguided attempt to save money.

Before you buy another thing for your home, use these guidelines to determine where it makes sense to spend, and where you’ll be just as satisfied if you skimp.

Spend more if… you’ll use it for years. It pays to spend on items you’ll have for a long time: couch, stepstool, or vacuum cleaner. Over the lifetime of the object, the additional cost is negligible.

Skimp if… it will be out-of-date soon. A new tech gadget will be cheaper in a year; skimp on pillows and curtains, if you change décor often.

Spend more if… quality matters. A dull knife is makes cooking a chore. The flimsy drawers on a shoddy file cabinet or dresser will annoy you every time you open them. Pay more for ease-of-use.

Skimp if… you’re not really sure how much you’ll use it. If you’re not a budding chef, opt for the $40 mixer, not the $400 professional model—until you’ve whipped up several soufflés.

Spend more if… it makes your life easier. Invest in great, lightweight luggage if you travel often; in pull-out shelves that streamline your space; a clothes steamer that make mornings a breeze.

Skimp if… it’s likely to break, get dirty or wear out. Skimp on expensive wine glasses (use the money you save to buy better wine)! Got kids or a shedding pet? Forgo expensive furniture. Towels and linens don’t last for years, so go for cheapies since you’ll be replacing them often.

Spend if… it ultimately saves you money. Get the snazzy coffee maker with individual pods if it weans you from a $5 a day latte habit. When comparing products, consider the cost of maintenance and replacement parts. Rechargeable batteries cost more up front, but save you money in the long run.

Ultimately, remember that price doesn’t make an item more valuable—it’s where it fits in your life. Inexpensive dinner plates work just as well as fancy ones. And there’s a reason IKEA’s $50 Billy bookcase is the world’s best-selling bookcase.

This article was written by Lisa Zaslow and originally published on September 16, 2011 at dailyworth.com.

1. Keep a consistent schedule.

Wake-up time and bedtime shouldn’t vary by more than an hour each day, including weekends. “People get the Monday-morning blues because they sleep in on weekends,” says Todd J. Swick, M.D., medical director of Apnix Sleep Diagnostics in Houston. “It shifts the internal clock.”

2. Exercise – but not too late.

Working out increases levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine. That’s good for revving up your heart rate when you’re doing aerobics, but those same chemicals can keep you up if you work out less than 4 hours before bedtime.

3. Curb late-night snacking.

Eating after dinner diverts blood from the brain – needed for proper sleep – to digesting food. Nighttime digestion can also disrupt sleep, especially if you suffer from acid reflux. A rule of thumb: Other than perhaps a bit of cheese or milk, eat no later than 3 hours before hitting the sack, especially large meals.

4. Wean yourself off sleep meds.

Sleep aids, especially over-the-counter versions, are meant to be used no more than three to four weeks. Besides being psychologically addictive, they can upset normal sleep patterns. “They change the relative percentage of different sleep stages your body needs,” Swick says.

5. Adjust your temperature.

A hot bath or shower followed by time spent in a cool room preps the body for sleep better than thick pajamas and heavy covers. As for room temperature, the ideal range for sleeping is roughly 68° F to 70° F.

6. Lay off the sauce.

Like a nightcap to help you unwind? That late-night nip can cause you to wake early, since alcohol becomes a stimulant as it’s metabolized. Alcohol also worsens sleep apnea and causes louder, deeper snoring. Take that last drink 3 to 4 hours before bed if you have no major sleep problems – and at least 6 hours if you do.

7. Turn off the tube.

Watching TV or using computers and mobile devices right before bedtime may seem like a great way to relax, but it can make the brain think it’s morning. Like to read in bed? Consider features and apps that display white text on a black background, which is less likely to trigger the daylight effect.

8. Decaffeinate your evenings.

Sleep experts advise people to avoid caffeine in all forms after 6 p.m. You may even want to consider switching to decaf hours earlier if you have trouble sleeping.

9. Banish pets.

Some people would sooner kick their spouse or partner out of bed than their pet. But pets can disturb sleep by snoring, getting on and off the bed, and taking up space.

10. Kick it down a notch.

Help tune out your anxieties by writing your worries on index cards in the early evening. “We call them worry cards,” Swick says. “We’ve found that most fears don’t look nearly as serious once you’ve written them out.”

This article was originally published in the May, 2013 issue of Consumer Reports.

Even low-fee carrier Southwest Airlines added a $40 fee in January for passengers who want to be among the first 15 people to board their plane. It has also raised its “EarlyBird” check-in for slightly less exclusive priority boarding from $10 to $12.50.

Extra fees from airlines and hotels often aren’t disclosed when you book a trip. But more transparency may be on the way. In November, the Federal Trade Commission sent a warning letter to 22 hotel operators telling them to disclose “resort fees” in their total price. And this month the Department of Transportation expects to release a proposed rule that would require airlines to provide fee information to travel agents so that consumers can compare fees amount carriers and pay for optional services when they book flights.

Until then, here’s what to do to avoid certain fees.

1. Airline extras.

The fees most likely to aggravate you are those for changing your ticket and for checking your bags. Change fees typically run $75 to $150 for domestic flights and $200 for international trips. Your first checked bag typically costs $20 to $25 on domestic flights and is free if you fly internationally. But if your checked bags weigh too much, you’ll get slapped with overweight fees of $25 to $200. You might also pay fees of $10 to $35 to book by phone, up to $99 for advance seat selection, and $10 to $199 for extra leg room. If those aren’t bad enough, Spirit Airlines charges up to $50 for a carry-on, and Virgin America has a $10 fee for pillows and blankets.

What you can do. Travel light. Or fly a low-fee airline, such as JetBlue or Southwest. JetBlue allows you one free checked bag; Southwest gives you two. If you need to check a bag or pay for a carry-on, see whether there’s a discount for prepaying on the airline’s website.

Check your airline’s luggage fees and weight limits. For example, United charges $100 to $200 (depending on your destination) for a checked bag weighing from 51 to 70 pounds; Hawaiian Airlines charges $50 for travel outside Hawaii. Complicating things, overweight fees kick in at just 41 pounds on Spirit and Allegiant Air.

You might avoid some fees if you charge your travel to an airline credit card. The cards often carry annual fees of $40 to $100, but many waive them in the first year. The perks they typically offer – priority boarding, free checked luggage, car-rental insurance, travel insurance, and access to airport lounges – can more than make up for the annual fee.

2. Hotel Add-ons

Once you arrive at your destination, you might get hit with “resort fees” tacked onto your hotel bill at checkout to the tune of $12 to $40 per day. Those fees can cover services such as access to a pool, gym, or business center; daily newspapers; or making “free” local calls – whether you use the services or not.

What you can do. Try negotiating with the hotel clerk to remove or reduce the extra fees. Or stay at a hotel that doesn’t charge them in the first place. Mid-tier chains such as Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, and Hyatt House typically offer free Wi-Fi, parking, gyms, pools, and business centers.

Joining a hotel loyalty program or getting a hotel credit card can score you free amenities. For instance, Omni Hotel group’s complimentary loyalty program gets you free Wi-Fi, morning beverage service, newspapers, clothes pressing, and bottled water on your arrival.

This article was originally published in the May 2013 issue of Consumer Reports.

Beef Prices Are on the Rise

Unfortunately for anyone getting ready for a season of grilling, beef prices have risen to historically high prices. According to The Wall Street Journal, “Retail beef prices are widely expected to set new records in coming weeks after wholesale prices hit an all-time peak this past week.” The increases are due to years of drought that have thinned cattle herds, a problem that can’t be easily reversed. Maybe take this opportunity to throw leaner foods like chicken and (gasp!) veggie burgers on that gas or charcoal grill.

Grill Deals Will Spark in July

Of course, we can’t mention grilling without pointing out that deals on grills themselves will be less than thrilling in June. You’ll get a better discount if you wait for July 4th promotions. According to our deals from last year, you could save as much as $200 or more on a mid- to high-end grill if you wait until July.

The Month is Front-Loaded with Tool Deals

Naturally, there will be tool sales in June to entice shoppers to buy turbo charged something or other for dear old dad on Father’s Day. In fact, about two-thirds of last year’s Editors’ Choice offers on tools in June came before the holiday. But if you’re looking to buy something substantial, and there’s no Father’s Day deadline, consider waiting until late October or November when the discounts are consistently deeper.

Hold Off on Apple Purchases

Apple will be holding its annual developers conference in June, and while CEO Tim Cook has hinted that new hardware won’t come until the fall, one thing is certain: you’ll be kicking yourself if you buy a new iPhone or MacBook if these items get refreshed this month. If that happens, then we’ll see price cuts on previous generation models, both new units (at resellers like MacMall) and refurbished devices (from Apple directly). If Apple only unveils iOS 7 at the conference, then go ahead and buy the Cupertino device of your dreams — unless you want to wait another few months.

This article was written by Lindsay Sakraida and originally published at dealnews.com on May 28, 2013. To read the entire list of buys, click here.

The event is being hosted by Scott Prindle, WESTconsin Credit Union Mortgage Loan Originator, along with guest speakers Dirk Prindle, CPA at Carlson Highland and Brian Byrnes, Attorney at Byrnes Law Office. Topics covered include: preapprovals, refinancing, buying a home after bankruptcy, parceling off property, and more.

Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged by clicking here, or calling
(715) 268-8127 ext. 7425. Registration deadline is June 4. There is no cost to attend and refreshments will be served.

As they regularly remind us, teens know everything. Money is no exception.

In a recent Capital One 360 poll, 87% of 12- to 17-year-olds reported knowing at least an average amount about managing finances. Or not. That study also found that 24% of them think a debit card is used to borrow cash.

And a Charles Schwab poll found that fewer than a third of teens understand how credit card interest works and 4 in 10 can’t budget.

Parents’ money talks with high schoolers tend to start and end with “How much do you need?”

“The more you teach your kids before they go off on their own, the better prepared they are,” says Daniel Hebert of Jump$tart, a coalition promoting financial literacy.

The most critical skills to impart:

1. Managing on a limited budget

The key word is limited. “Teens need to know that money is finite,” says Anton Simunovic, founder of ThreeJars.com, a money-management site for kids.

How to build the skill. Figure out what you’re spending for junior’s clothing, entertainment, and gifts for friends. “Then give that amount to your kid and let him pay for those things,” says Jayne Pearl, author of a series of books on kids and money.

Set teens up with a checking account and debit card, and when they mess up, resist the urge to bail them out.

“It is important to make them responsible for their financial actions while the consequences are not serious,” says Jeffrey Arnett, a psychology professor at Clark University and co-author of When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up?

2.  Paying yourself first

“You want to get your child in the habit of putting something aside,” says Stephanie Bell, spokesperson for Junior Achievement USA.

A good goal is to stash 10% of every allowance, paycheck, and birthday check. And nothing provides better motivation than an understanding of how money makes money — a.k.a. compound interest.

How to build the skill. Use an online calculator to show your teen how compounding works, says Beth Kobliner, author of Get a Financial Life. (Try the Simple Savings Calculator at Bankrate.com.) You might also sweeten the pot by offering to match her with, say, $25 for every $100 she banks.

3.  Steering clear of credit debt

Just 9% of college kids pay their credit cards off every month, a study in the International Journal of Business and Social Science found. Help your child understand the value of being in that minority.

How to build the skill. The next time you pay with plastic in your child’s presence, point out that it’s borrowed money and that compounding works against you when you carry a balance. Later, show her your bill, specifically the box illustrating how long it will take to pay off and how much it will cost if you fork over only the minimum.

Make sure she understands, too, that you’re “graded” on your use of credit; regularly paying late, for example, could result in a higher rate on a car loan. When she’s ready for her own card — around age 21 — “ask for a $500 limit,” says Hebert. Well prepared as your child may be, it never hurts to use training wheels the first time out.

This article was written by Karen Cheney and originally posted at money.cnn.com on May 15, 2013.

Those presenting are Mary Behling and Vinny Cognetta, WESTconsin Credit Union Mortgage Loan Originators, and Pennie Peterson, WESTconsin Realty REALTOR®. Topics include: home buying and selling; basic industry terminology; your credit score and how it affects borrowing; financing programs and options; the mortgage loan process; the benefits of working with the WESTconsin Credit Union and WESTconsin Realty team; and a questions and answers session.

Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged by clicking here, or calling
(715) 386-2300 ext. 7805 or 7817. Registration deadline is June 2. There is no cost to attend. Door prizes and refreshments will be provided.

And as the cost of higher education continues to rise, and the increasing amount of student loan debt threatens to push the economy past its breaking point, it’s more important than ever to know the mistakes before it is too late.

Here are four mistakes to make sure you avoid.

1. Picking the wrong plan for you.

Experts generally recommend to not take out loans that exceed your expected starting salary after you graduate. There are four main plans you can chose to pay off your loans with, ranging from a minimum of $50 a month for 10 years or incrementally increasing payments for as much as 30 years. But if you know you’re going to have a low income and you’re worried about defaulting, consider the income-based repayment plan, which is best for graduates who do not have a steady cash flow. The annual amount you owe is based off of 15 percent of your projected income for the year and after the 25th year, the rest of the debt is exonerated.

2. Stalling payments when you don’t have to.

If a graduate qualifies for deferment or forbearance, postponing the payments may seem like tempting options. But some deferments and all forbearances will continue to tack on interest rates to the overall debt, increasing the total amount a borrower will have to pay. During deferment, borrowers with subsidized loans won’t have to pay interest on the debt, while unsubsidized loans will still accrue the extra charges.

3. Paying the minimum each month.

Transaction charges and interest rates will drive up the cost of the total amount a borrower owes. Graduates with student loan debt also should consider that the longer a payment plan lasts, the more money will be tacked on to the overall bill. For some options which can take up to 30 years, you could have to pay thousands more.

4. Thinking you can likely get out of it with bankruptcy.

Unless you can prove continuing to repay your student loans after bankruptcy would cause “undue hardship” in court, your student loan debt won’t go away after filing for bankruptcy. While knowing that there isn’t an easy way out may be daunting, but it’s better to know now instead of banking on that escape route.