Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

Summer is a great time to take it easy, but - trust us - you do want to expend the energy it takes to read these smart tips to save money. These summer deals could save your family thousands:

1. Save on Keeping Your Cool
If you cringe before opening your summer utility bills, see if your local provider offers what's known as an AC conservation plan. For instance, Shakopee Public Utilities in Minnesota offers a free Smart Switch option, which saves users up to $30 on their electric bill for the summer months (June to September) by switching off their air conditioners automatically for 15 minutes at a time (a quick switch-installation visit by a licensed electrician is required). Get smart about appliances to cut your energy costs.
Savings: $30

2. Upgrade Your Appliances
If your fridge seems to be doing a halfhearted job of keeping the ice cream, well, iced, try the government's Cash for Appliances program. As part of the economic stimulus package, this extremely popular plan

These days, pets are family. We spoil them rotten with a cozy home, plenty of toys, their favorite treats, and our undivided attention and love. But is insurance for your pet just taking it too far, or is it a smart financial move for your family?

"Pet insurance can make state-of-the-art medical treatment and/or traumatic emergency care possible for many pet owners who might otherwise not be able to afford it," says Los Angeles-based veterinarian Karen Halligan, author of Doc Halligan's What Every Pet Owner Should Know: Prescriptions for Happy, Healthy Cats and Dogs (Harper Collins, $15.95).

RELATED: Smart Ways to Slash Your Pet-Care Costs

"Average premiums range from $120 to $500 per year, depending on the plan - usually, lower monthly premiums come with higher deductibles and/or larger co-pays." The potential savings are significant: Say your pet needed cruciate ligament surgery that costs $4,200. With a $200 deductible, 10 percent co-pay, and $360 for the insurance plan ($30 per

More than half of all Americans - and more women than men - have trouble sleeping at least a few times a week. Without a night of sound slumber, you may not focus as well, and you may have a harder time dealing with life's small bumps. And too little sleep on a regular basis (officially known as insomnia) can also lead to medical problems - an increased risk of depression, obesity, heart disease and diabetes - not to mention accidents because your reaction times are off.

What can you do if you have trouble sleeping? Here are a few great tips for sound sleeping from GH readers:

"I imagine that I'm redecorating my house room by room. It's the least stressful thing I can think of to keep my mind off any real problems. I rarely get more than two rooms done before I'm asleep." -Arlene LaPorta, Williamstown, NJ

Make sleep easier by making your bed more comfortable.

"I wear sponge earplugs, which make a faint whoosh sound. I concentrate on the sound of nothingness. Also, if it's cold, I

These heat-beating bargains, all $60 or less, let you keep your cool - and more of your cold, hard cash.



White Hot
For wearability you can take to the bank, nothing tops this go-everywhere white denim jacket. Toss it over a tank and slim skirt for a dinner date - or slip it over jeans and a tee for a date with your Saturday to-do list.

Jacket, $49.50, American Eagle. Tank, $14.50, Shade. Skirt, $58, Rafaella. Gold-and-turquoise necklace, $42, Bodega. Turquoise necklace, $16, Rimistyle.

Find the secret to dressing slim.



In Full Swing
Deep pockets aren't required to afford this tropical-print tunic: $58 gets you an effortless, body-skimming piece that's polished enough for a day in the city but playful enough for covering up by the pool.

Tunic, $58, Echo. Bikini top, $52, Becca by Rebecca Virtue. Pants, $20, T.J. Maxx. Earrings, $12, ShopTheLook. Necklace, $48, Bodega. Sandals, $18, æropostale

Learn how to find the perfect swimsuit.


Frock Star
What we love about this snappy

Graduation parties should be about celebrating the graduate and catching up with friends and family, not about high-maintenance food. We've pulled together a few of our favorite easy, do-ahead recipes that work well for a crowd. Here's a sampling, but find the full menu here.

Grilled Beef Tenderloin
A beef tenderloin just naturally says party. It's impressive to serve, and our simply seasoned version requires very little preparation or maintenance during cooking. A few slices of this rich-tasting meat can be enjoyed hot off the grill, at room temperature, or even cold. Try it any way you want, but be sure to pass our two fabulous sauces - Horseradish Salsa and Creamy Lemon - to serve with it.
Get the Recipe


Grilled Chicken Breasts
It's easy to grill chicken breasts a day or two ahead. Serve cold or at room temperature with one or all of our three complementary sauces: Peach Salsa, Walnut Sauce, and Parsley-Caper Sauce. If you prefer not to grill, we've included easy oven-poaching

Memorial Day is quickly approaching and that means one thing - sun, sun, and more sun! May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and here at Good Housekeeping Research Institute we feel it is our duty to arm you with the best advice when it comes to making decisions regarding your health and safety.

We had a very special visitor at the Institute last week, Dr. Steven Wang of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. His advice for photoprotection is to stay out of the sun altogether - but that isn't exactly practical or a very fun way to spend your summer. What he suggests you can do is cover yourself by wearing protective clothing and applying sunscreen.

Here's What You Need to Know About...

Sun Dangers: It is important to remember that sun-protection is not just about anti-aging. Harmful sun rays reach everyone. In fact, nearly twice as many men as women die of skin cancer each year. There is also rapid growth among white women ages 15 to 34, and one in five Americans will develop

Getting rid of stuff seems to be the chore we all dread. But when closets are crowded, drawers are jumbled, and shelves overflow, it can really slow you down. Tackle the problem by taking a little time every day to focus on just one or two areas (like kitchen counters) that drive you crazy. These clutter-busting hints will help you dejunk your space - which will save you time and stress.

If you have five minutes...

• Chuck crummy sponges and outdated cleaning products lingering in your kitchen; clear old leftovers out of the fridge and pitch any expired foods found in the pantry.
• Do a TV-room makeover. During TV commercials, quickly tidy up the room you're in. Gather all the magazines, newspapers, and bits of trash and put them in the garbage. Straighten pillows and refold throws. Organize your work space. On the next program break, you can even give the den a quick vacuum.
• Throw away old cosmetics and expired medicines in the vanity drawer or the cabinet over the sink. Sort

You've probably read a lot in the news lately about efforts to ban the selling of drop side cribs. Cribs with drop sides have been blamed for the deaths of infants because babies got caught and suffocated in the space between the mattress and side rail. In these cases, the hardware supporting the drop side became faulty and allowed the side of the crib to pull away from the mattress.

HOW TO CALM YOUR KIDS' FEARS

Despite the recent recalls, cribs are still the safest environment for children. The key is to take proper cautionary measures when purchasing, assembling, and maintaining them.

7 STEPS TO HAVE A HAPPIER MARRIAGE

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute recommends you follow these guidelines:

1. Look for a crib certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA).
2. When choosing a crib, be sure slats or spindles are spaced no more than 2 3/8" apart.
3. Don't buy a crib with any cutout areas on the headboard or footboard - such cutouts could allow