August 1963

Where do you go with serious financial problems?

Don't ever try to squeeze through the crisis by hastily taking out a lot of expensive short-term loans. Instead, collect all your family financial records, go to a quiet corner of your home, and sort out your affairs.

How can you get "last-minute" money for college?

You can ... it, often on surprisingly easy ... Today it's quite possible to get loan from federal or state governments or from a college loan program.

Should you shop for a new home before you sell your old one?

The answer is yes-- but only if you can be sure you won't find yourself paying for two homes, with two sets of bills for taxes, mortgage, interest, insurance, and maintenance.

What does it cost to travel by bus, train, car, and plane?

Bus travel runs between 2 and 3 cents per mile. Train costs from 3 to 4½ cents a mile (coach) up to 4½ to 7½ cents a mile (first class basic fare not including Pullman).

Is term insurance worth anything?

You definitely pay less for term insurance than for same dollar coverage in "straight life." For a man in his mid-thirties, the straight life premium may be three times higher. That's because term insurance is life insurance without trimmings.

When and how do you stop payment on a check?

HERE'S A WONDERFUL USE OF A FRONT YARD

NOISE: WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE BIGGEST HEADACHE IN MOST HOUSES!

Sound-conditioning techniques have been proved in laboratories by many major companies. Recently, several companies joined with Fox and Jacobs, homebuilders in Dallas, to test the techniques in a 3-bedroom, $19,000 model home. The results were impressive. Sound can be absorbed and blocked, of course, and even cut down at the source. The cost? About $600 extra-- really low for the noise control achieved. Here are the four basics that quiet any home.

BUILD YOURSELF A BARBECUE CART

HOW GOOD IS YOUR KITCHEN VENTILATION?

Your kitchen is well ventilated only if the right fan system is helping to do the job. Unlike the breeze from windows, the fan is always at your command. With a flick of the switch, there's no more food odor to greet your guests; walls, cabinets are protected from smoke, heat, and moisture. And over a longer period of time, you will find your house stays cleaner. All this hinges on your getting peak performance from the fan. This means selecting the right fan and following up your choice with proper installation in exactly the right location.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT INTERIOR PAINT

"Husbands picking out an interior paint color must bring along a note from their wives" is a sign which our favorite paint man has taped on his cash register. "I'm only half serious about the note, but on three other points I go all the way. That is, on the importance of the shopper bringing us a color sample, telling us what is to be painted, and the condition it's in."

IT'S NEWS TO ME!

TOUGH DECORATING PROBLEMS SOLVED!

Here is a whole portfolio of answers. Each picture solves at least one specific problem, but should be studied for more than this. All the rooms display color schemes, furniture arrangements, and decorator ideas adaptable to a variety of situations. Read the next ten pages and see!

INSPIRING NEW COLORS--LIVELY BUT LIVABLE

These are the colors that are top news this year-- in fabrics, furniture, accessories, and carpets. Here, from Better Homes and Gardens, are paints for background and accents that are just right with today's fashion.

THIS PLAN MAKES GOOD USE OF EVERY BUILDING DOLLAR

No matter where or how you build--east, west, high, or low--the floor plan is what counts most. A good plan can mean the difference between comfort and inconvenience, between a smart investment and a waste of money.

A HOUSE THAT MAKES BIG SPACE SEEM EVEN BIGGER

IS THIS THE FAMILY ROOM YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR?

How many times has one of your family said, "What we really need is a good family room"? This family room addition may well be the answer-- it was designed especially for Better Homes and Gardens and built at the Sumner, Washington, home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Huntington.

HOW TO SPOT GREAT POSSIBILITIES

It takes a shrewd eye to spot good remodeling possibilities-- but it can be ... On these four pages, you will see how two good houses suddenly became ... standing ones. The secret formula? Nothing mysterious-- just knowing exactly what was needed, and finding the best place to put it. For the first houses modeling meant new living room space, a sheltered lanai, and a whole new ... For the second house, it meant a master bedroom, complete with a dressing-room, bath, and walk-in closet. What could a smart remodeling do for you?

ONE GOOD ARRANGEMENT DESERVES ANOTHER!

Alone, each arrangement is a small, flawless gem of flower perfection! But together --these magnificent multiple groupings form an eye-catching pageant of garden allure throughout the entire house!

A VERY ENJOYABLE FAMILY KITCHEN

EASY-TO-BUILD OUTDOOR BENCHES

If you need new seating ideas for your outdoor living areas, take a look at the ones we show here. All are exceptionally sturdy and have been designed for ease of construction and maintenance. Just select the one that suits you and build it where you can get the most use from it.

HOW TO ORDER PLANS FOR HOUSES AND PROJECTS

You can order plans for either of the two houses in this new series. The complete package includes working drawings ... which a qualified builder can duplicate the house exactly. Also included in the package is a list of materials to help ... costs, an outline of specifications for workmanship and materials, and points for you to include in your builder-owner agreement. The two houses are:

THE LATEST WORD ON CRAB GRASS CONTROL

Thanks to recent advancements in crab grass control, this number-one lawn weed need no longer be a problem. Chemical and cultural controls during different seasons of the year now make it possible to keep your lawn free of this pest.

SHOPPING BY MAIL WITH BETTER HOMES & GARDENS

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

Our 10-year-old Judy defends her new puppy's erratic behavior by explaining that he is an only dog.