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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 11, 2008

Buying Your First Home?

The federal government would like to congratulate you.

First-time homebuyers who purchase from April 9, 2008 to July 1, 2009 may qualify for a fat tax credit of up to $7,500. To learn whether you qualify, and how to get it, visit federal housing taxcredit.com.

Check the site's frequently asked questions, provisions on the law and other homebuyer resources.

It's a buyer's market in more ways than one.

Get A New Couch. For Free.
Bassett Furniture is giving away custom sofas every

day through Dec. 18.

Enter once a day at www

.bassettfurniture.com; winners are chosen from each day's

entries, and the entries don't carry over to other days.

Winners get their choice of a sofa worth up to $3,000 retail. Pick A Card,

Any Card

Well, not any card. Root, root, root for the home team by voting for one of our local finalists in Hallmark's Your Pets contest.

Five Bay area pets are pictured on cards available at Wal-Mart, Walgreens and CVS. The owners submitted their funny pet photos and a birthday sentiment to match, and were among 67

finalists who got their entries turned into cards.

Those cards are also online at www.hallmarkcontests.com/index.cfm, where the public has till Sunday to vote for the grand prize winner. The booty includes $1,000 plus a trip to Hallmark headquarters for a professional photo shoot.

Those who made the cut include Susan Rodnite of Tampa (her card is pictured), AJ Stratemeyer of Clearwater, Elizabeth Shedlock of Clearwater, Pati Twardosky of Brooksville, and Barbara McCormick of Trinity.

Save Energy, Save Money

Consumer Reports magazine's October issue is all about saving money. I like this magazine because the staff ruthlessly tests everything before publishing

an opinion.

Here are some of its top

money- and energy-savings recommendations:

Clean refrigerator coils.

Don't prerinse dishes before loading the dishwasher. (I'll have to go on faith on that one.)
Wash clothes in cold water.

Put your computer on

Standby or Hibernate when not in use.

Check car tires' inflation and correct it if necessary.

Penny Carnathan

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