July 1977

HOME CLOSING COSTS: Do you know your rights?

When you buy a home, the money you must shell out for closing costs can come as a real shock. They may add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars, yet until recently home buyers often were in the dark about what to expect. That's all changed now, thanks to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA).

One room TWO personalities

One way to deal with a long, narrow living room is to "divide" it into separate, and equally inviting, conversation groupings. As shown here, it's possible to give each end of the room a distinctive treatment of its own-- providing you decoratively link the two areas and choose compatible colors and patterns.

DO-IT-YOURSELF FOOD DRYING

Food drying, an ancient form of food preservation, is back in vogue with a bang. To garden enthusiasts, it's a great way to preserve excess produce. And even non-gardeners are using the technique to create nutritious snacks, wild fruit preserves, and dry herb blends.

STEP-BY-STEP TO A FOOD DEHYDRATOR

Ready to try your hand at home food drying? If you can build a box, you can put together the plywood food dehydrator pictured on page 18. Then just follow the guidelines given on that page for drying your favorite fruits and vegetables.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE: ZEROING IN ON THE GREATEST THREAT TO YOUR TEETH

Will your teeth last as long as you do? Maybe. But there are 20 million Americans bereft of every natural tooth they once had, and nearly all of them (an estimated 98 percent) lost their teeth because of periodontal disease.

A multipurpose center island

PLAYING IT SAFE IN THE SUN

Are you a sun-worshiper who basks for hours in the sun to get a perfect tan? Does your work or hobby keep you in the sun for long hours? If so, you're living dangerously. Those long hours spent in the sun can lead to premature aging of the skin, skin damage, and even skin cancer.

HOW LONG WILL YOUR NEST EGG LAST?

How can you budget your nest egg during retirement so you can keep up with inflation and buy a few small luxuries, too? The answer is invasion of principal-- which once was considered downright wicked. These examples will help you figure the possibilities.

In-store decorating courses: worth your while?

More and more large department stores and some furniture outlets are offering in-store decorating classes to anyone who wants to sign up and pay the enrollment fee. The promotion ads usually read "Become your own decorator in six short weeks," or, "Learn to decorate like the pros-- 10 lessons, $55."

INS & OUTS OF JOINT OWNERSHIP

If you're like most couples, you probably own a lot of property together-- your home, bank accounts, perhaps stocks and bonds. You'll find some advantages to joint ownership, but it's not always the wisest arrangement. Here are some points to consider.

Step-by-step project scrapbook

When should you have your eyes examined?

The answer may sound obvious, but according to eye specialists the time to have your eyes examined is just as soon as you realize you're not seeing as well as you used to or not seeing as clearly as you think you should. The hitch is that only a very few people really know how well their eyes are working.

Iron-in fabric printing kit

Botch-proof screen printing kit

Kitchen fire fighter

Easy ice cream

Plastic hardware

Measuring for shades and such

You've undoubtedly noticed that shutters, mini-slat Venetian blinds, and shades of all kinds have become popular alternatives to conventional drapery and curtain treatments. Although installing shutters and blinds is slightly trickier than hanging draperies, you can make the job easier by getting accurate window measurements before ordering materials. Here's how to go about it.

Stairs with flair

100 IDEAS UNDER $100

If you've been looking for a magic formula to stretch bucks in these tight-money times, take heart! Here are 34 pages jam-packed with imaginative ways you can make a hundred dollars seem like a pretty good chunk of cash.

HOW TO DECK A SLOPING YARD

If you've shied away from building a deck because your yard slopes, look at what these folks did with their steep slope. They covered it with this handsome, all-purpose deck.

HOW TO STAMP OUT ATHLETE'S FOOT

Why do they call it "athlete's foot?" Probably because the name suggests both the kind of person most likely to suffer from the itchy disorder and the conditions under which it develops.

How to order material from the magazine

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS T-shirt designed EXCLUSIVELY for you. Each T-shirt proudly displays our insignia imprinted in full color on quality 100 percent cotton crew-necked shirts. Great for picnics, parties, the beach-- anywhere! And the shirts are available in a variety of sizes so you can outfit the whole family.

HOW TO HANDLE A RECALL

Knowing how to check if your car (or a car you're thinking about buying) has ever been involved in a recall campaign-- and how to handle the situation-- could help save you from paying for some very costly repairs.

IS YOUR CAR READY FOR VACATION?

RV TIRE TIPS

Family Sailing

Every year more and more greenhorn sailors hoist sails and cast off to explore the mysteries of the sea. Most of them soon discover, however, that sailing isn't all "beauty" and "poetry." Besides the aesthetic rewards-- such as gleaming hulls, billowing sails, and dancing waves on the horizon-- sailing involves mastering a whole new set of skills.

Kayaking

As an alternative to learning to sail, why not try kayaking? Even if there isn't a lake or an ocean nearby for sailing, you can't travel far without crossing a stream or a river. Any river with enough water to float a kayak has "yak" potential. (That's not to rule out paddling your yak in a lake or an ocean.)

How to cope with jet lag

Zooming through different time zones can be exciting and fun. But sooner or later an affliction called jet lag catches up with most travelers.

Better Homes Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence. If not delighted, each company will happily refund your money.

The Man Next Door

Judy, at 11, is making progress in her art class. Her big envelope is now called a portfolio.