January 1981

EDITOR at large

What you're observing in the photograph below is one computer communicating with another over the telephone. It's not a scene from Star Wars or 2001 ("Hello... R2D2? This is Hal") but a real-life hookup between a small home computer and a much larger model in Columbus, Ohio.

A Family Budget Plan That Works

If your family is typical, you're finding it harder than ever to make ends meet because of inflation and other money pressures. Yet even today there are. ways to win the battle of the budget. Your basic weapons are time-tested: a realistic focus on how you handle money; specific sayings programs for achieving specific goals; a consistent method for tracking your cash flow; a commitment to follow your budget and adjust it when necessary.

SPECIAL DIETS: A Guide to Eating Out

If you're following a special diet, you may think that eating out is more trouble than it's worth. But if you follow these tips, you can dine out in style and stay on your diet.

THE DURRANTS

A few years ago, Pamela and David Durrant of Harvard, Massachusetts, decided they wanted to become more self-reliant. That's an ambitious goal, to be sure, but one they've been able to reach through some conscious decisions and a lot of work.

THE JERDEES

Turning a house into a home is no easy task. It requires time, patience, and creativity-- but not necessarily a lot of money. For Becky and Allen Jerdee, it was a task they gladly embraced when they moved to Rosemount, Minnesota, five years ago.

A Year-Round Vacation Home

When a beach cottage becomes a permanent home, certain changes have to be made. This cottage was used primarily for vacations and rentals. Here's how its owners turned it into an attractive and efficient permanent residence, without increasing its size.

Do-It-Yourself Storage Headboard

Could you use more stashing space in your bedroom? Then put an idle corner to work with a storage headboard that stows books, collectibles, and bedside paraphernalia. This easy-to-build unit is made of inexpensive plywood and can be adapted to fit almost any size bed or bedroom. To make your own, just follow these simple steps.

Chocolate Dress-Ups

A garnish of chocolate can give a professional flair to pies, cakes, cookies, and beverages. Here's how to use semisweet, sweet, or milk chocolate and cocoa powder to create delicious finishing touches.

Thrifty Window Treatments

HOW TO CHOOSE CARPET PADDING

Choosing the right carpet padding is as important as selecting the right carpet. Good-quality carpet padding not only adds luxurious softness underfoot but also prolongs the life of your carpet. Why? Carpet padding serves as a shock absorber, minimizing wear and tear on carpet from everyday room traffic.

Showing Off Collectibles

Who Says You Can't Afford An Architect?

You might think your building or remodeling budget is too tight to include the services of an architect-- that architects are only interested in big-dollar clients and elaborate projects. But the fact is, you can get a lot of mileage out of as little as $100. Many architects are happy to consult on small jobs on an hourly basis.

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.

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

Doc Hannelly says January is the month that tries the soul. The Christmas bills always are bigger than expected, the wind is colder than remembered, and it suddenly becomes clear that the two-year supply of firewood you got last fall might not last until March.