May 1980

Life Insurance

Young families are often caught between a rock and a hard place when buying life insurance: Typically, the need for financial protection is at its highest when the income they can afford to put into insurance is at its lowest. But the situation is improving.

A Report to Parents on Minimum Competency Tests Sample test questions: Could you pass?

To qualify for a high school diploma, your child may very well have to pass something called a minimum competency test, in addition to meeting the usual requirements of passing certain courses and attending school for a certain period of time. What's the point of such tests? Here are some representative examples of the kinds of questions that appear on various minimum competency tests.

Whole-house fans Low-cost Cooling

Here's how you can cut back on air conditioning this summer and save money without sweltering: Install a whole-house fan, the kind that has been known for years as the "attic" fan, and bring refreshing breezes into every room of your house.

SOLAR CONVERSIONS THAT WORK ADD A SOLAR GREENHOUSE

An alarming number of us are caught in a real bind: We're afraid we won't be able to pay our heat bills next year, yet we're simply not in a position-- at least for the time being-- to build or buy a home that we can afford to heat. For most of us, the only recourse has been to tighten up our homes and conserve energy by closing off unused rooms, setting back thermostats, etc. But for some families, there may be a sound new way to cope with the problem. If your house and lot qualify (as explained below), and if you can swing a home improvement loan, you can probably cut your heat costs considerably by adding a passive solar greenhouse.

REVIVE A PENCIL-THIN BUNGALOW

Just a few years ago, decrepit old houses like this one were shunned by home buyers. But today these narrow little urban bungalows are soaring in popularity due to runaway inflation, the energy crisis, and a critical shortage of land close to downtown.

A take-along picnic table

A breakfast room/deck addition

Two-way pet door

Build-it-yourself Platform Bed

If you like the looks-- but not the price-- of a custom-made bed frame, consider this stylish, easy-to-build version. The sleek platform frame is made of plywood panels that are padded with foam and "upholstered" with inexpensive sheets; a recessed base supports the bed. To make your own customized bed frame, just follow these easy steps.

MUSIC LESSONS at your age?

To that question, about 50 million adult amateur musicians would respond with a fortissimo "Yes!" No matter what your age or previous musical experience, you can learn to make music that you-- and others-- will enjoy.

The ABC's of changing a tire

Do all the drivers in your family know the proper technique?

How to get the best auto parts

With the average new car price creeping toward five figures, one strategy for cutting car costs is to simply keep your current car longer. That means you'll have to buy more auto parts than usual, and you'll have to sort out the best parts for your car from among scores of brands at sources ranging from the junkyard to the corner grocery.

Stashed-away stereos

Back-to-nature walks and decks

Stick 'em up

Classics in lighting

Sturdy carry-out furniture

Iron-on decorating

Camp finder

New way to figure greenhouse heat

Predicting the amount of heat you can expect from a solar greenhouse addition is tricky, even for a technician. Most methods require a complete heat-loss analysis and an extensive hand-held-calculator program. As a result, even some of the pros prefer to make educated guesses.

Quilting how-to

PERKING UP TASTE AND SMELL

DEPRESSION: LONG-TERM HELP NEEDED?

MILD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? GET TREATMENT

DON'T TAN, DON'T BURN

A tan is "out and natural skin color is "in." That's the message dermatologists would like to convey to the American public.

MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

EXERCISE FOR NIGHT LEG CRAMPS

ARTIFICIAL BLOOD NOW IN LIMITED USE

ADOPTION HOPE FOR "SPECIAL NEEDS" KIDS

SYNTHETIC FIBERS: NO BALDNESS CURE

DRIVING SAFELY WITH KIDS

DECK DETAILS

Wallpaper wizardry

SOLUTIONS FOR TYPICAL TRACT HOUSES

No matter where you Live, you've seen them-- rows of small, boxy houses dotting the suburban landscape like so many cookies made with a mold. Outside, each one looks much like its next-door neighbor; inside, many lack adequate living and storage space, let alone distinctive personalities.

COFFEE BREAK

SHOW-OFF GARDENS WITH POTTED PLANTS

Let potted plants brighten every aspect of your outdoor living: your front entry, steps, walks, decks. Any area of your outside space can bloom from spring until frost-- or year round if you live in a mild climate.

Wallpapering time-savers

Multi-culture cooker

Pocket-size wrench kit

Spring cleaners

Solar-powered roof drain

Sizing up sewing machines

If you're about to buy a new sewing machine, be sure you know exactly what's available and what your needs are before you make a final decision. Here are four key areas to consider when you're shopping the sewing machine market.

Gardener's log

"May is building her house. With apple blooms She is roofing over the glimmering rooms."

INFLATION FIGHTER'S GUIDE TO LOW COST MEALS

INEXPENSIVE PROJECTS FOR WOODWORKING BUFFS

WHO SAYS GOURMET RECIPES HAVE TO BE HARD?

String-along crib dolls

With colorful fabric scraps and some quick-stitching, you can create a string of soft, safe fabric dolls to hang across your baby's crib.

TRAIN TREKKING ACROSS CANADA

Traveling through Canada by train is one of the great North American vacation adventures. Canadian rail travel offers experiences and options you won't find anywhere else on this continent. Besides that, Canadian trains are convenient, comfortable, energy efficient, and relatively inexpensive.

Kitchen makeover on a budget

When Delphia Lamberson decided to update the kitchen of her 1920s bungalow, she resolved to keep costs to a minimum and to achieve a look that would harmonize with the rest of the house. Careful planning and thrifty recycling helped her reach her goals.

TIPS, TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

This feature is written by you. It's a wide-ranging collection of shop hints, installation tips, and repair shortcuts that you-- along with millions like you-- have picked up from your experience as a do-it-yourselfer. We pay $25 for each problem solver we publish. See the box below for submission details.

What's what in Pet Nutrition

You don't have to be a nutrition expert to make sure your dog or cat gets a healthful, well-balanced diet. Once you understand the basics, choosing the right fare for the family pet isn't all that difficult.

Warning signs of water damage

If water gets into your house and stays there, the whole structure can gradually weaken and deteriorate. This damage is much more difficult to repair than to prevent, so keep your eyes open for early signs of trouble.

Shopping editor's choice

The Man Next Door

Our teacher friend, Nell Brooks, had her fourth graders write their definition of a friend. Our favorite: "A friend is someone who tells you a secret before he tells it to anyone else."