VTW'Vf/
TAKING
by Rebecca Wolf
Extension Home Economist
Questioning the Fast-Buck
Promises
One of the things that 1 find
cluttering my life is the bundles of
junk mail I receive each week.
Many of these are pleas for money
to support an array of causes, but
the ones that anger me most are
people’s attempts to make a fast
buck at my expense. These fast
money gimmicks seem to be a bar
gain on the surface, but I find
myself asking "What’s the
Catch?”
One letter promised, “You can
save as much as $70,000 on your
home mortgage and pay off your
Hay!
• 50% reduction in capital
• 70% more efficient method
Joseph Swantak, Inc.
H.C. 64 - Box 93 - Delhi Stage
Oneonta, N.Y. 13820
Phone 607-432-0891 or 607-432-0341
Toll Free 1-800-842-9228 Fax #: 607-432-0105
Quality Farm Equipment For Over 40 Years
(Dealer Inquiries Invited)
SPECIAL
CD
OFFER
Penalty for Early Withdrawal
Rates Subject to Change
Rates Apply to Individuals Only
Minimum *2,000 Deposit
Rate Compounded Dally
Join our 55+ Heritage Club
and get an extra 1/4% on
Special CD Rates
S 3 Lebanon Valley National Bank
C- . -,V
TIME
loan in two-thirds of the time!”
Along with this enticing promise
came an invitation to sell this
program to others and make even
more money. Others promise a
product that looks wonderful in
the photograph, but in reality is
much less exciting.
These days people are out to
make money, and I encourage
you, for the sake of your family’s
budget, to move cautiously and
ask questions. "How can that
company provide its product at
that price and still make money?”
Am I really going to get the deal
they promise?”
ansports - Unloads Round Bales
one man job with FiEXI F-40
• 50% reduction in labor
RATE
B.oo*
8.33 %
YIELD*
‘(Based on Annual
Percentage Rate)
6 MONTHS
Member FO 1C
* r
Some companies make their
money through a pyramid scheme
where a customer sells the pro
ducts to Mends; those Mends sell
to others. By offering commis
sions for the sales that they gen
erate through these others,
businesses predict great earnings
for little time and effort Unfortu
nately, this system only works for
a limited time because soon the
market in an area is saturated.
People can only make money if
they can continue to find new buy
ers and sellers.
Others make money by manipu
lating figures juggling interest
rates. Still others profit when the
product is produced with less than
standard quality materials. Some
companies really do make the
“fast buck.” They get people to
pay for a product and then go out
of business or simply disappear
without delivering the item.
On the other hand, legitimate
businesses exist that can offer you
a good product or service for the
money paid. In order to differenti-
investment
TERM
v(> r • ... n iv«* •* < *f,'(
Uncal* FamtafcSMmfe* Mylt, Wfrftta
ate die bargain Mm the bomb,
look for these features:
• The company is well
established and has a reputation
for providing a quality product
• The company provides a writ
ten guarantee or method of return
ing the product if you are not satis
fied.
• The fine print in the advertise
ment or contract does not contra
dict the bold headline “bargain.”
• You know the exact product/
service you will receive, die price
you will pay, and the date of deliv
ery. With the money-saving mort
gage deal, I didn't know if I would
receive a computer printout, a
book, a new mortgage offer, or a
sheet of paper to cany when I
negotiated with my own banker.
If you can examine the item, do
so carefully. Look for interior
flaws. Be inquisitive. Ask ques
tions of the salesclerk or dealer.
Also ask your Mends about their
Penn State Extension Offers
Help In Starting
Bed & Breakfast
A two-day workshop, “Starting
a Bed and Breakfast or Farm Vac
ation Operation,” is being offered
by Penn State Cooperative Exten
sion on Tuesday, March 27, and
Saturday, April 3, at the Penn
State Great Valley Campus.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m.
and the workshop is from 9:30
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.
registration for the meeting is $4O.
For more information, call Penn
State Extension at (717)
921-8803.
The workshop is designed for
anyone interested in starting a bed
and breakfast or farm vacation
operation. Bed tind breakfast and
farm vacations are becoming an
increasingly popular way to earn
additional income and to meet a
variety of interesting people.
Many long-lasting friendships
have resulted from a stay at a bed
and breakfast or farm vacation
operation. For travelers and vaca
tioners it is an interesting and
relaxing way to spend a night or a
week while meeting people famil
iar with the community.
The first day begins March 27,
with a discussion by Dr. Mary
Saylor, extension specialist, on
whether running a bed and break
fast or farm vacation operation is
for you. Russ Powell, extension
agent for business management.
MD Lamb Cook Off
WOODBINE. MD Enter
your favorite lamb recipe in the
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festi
val Seventh Annual Maryland
Grand Lamb Cook-Off.
A minimum of 1 pound of any
cut of American lamb must be
used.
All entries will be judged on
taste (40 points), appearance (20
points), originality (20 points),
and ease of preparation (20
points).
Prior to the May 6 Cook-Off, 10
finalists will be selected from
entries. These ten finalists will be
invited to prepare their recipes for
the judges at the Festival. Each
finalist will be provided with an
electrical outlet, table, and access
to a limited number of ovens.
Contestants must furnish their
own grills, microwaves, or other
necessary cooking equipment,
utensils, and serving materials to
present their entries to the three
judges.
Entries must be postmarked no
later than April 14, 1990.
experiences with timilar compa
nies or items.
To eliminate bothersome junk
mail and telephone sales offers,
request that your name be
removed from calling and mailing
lists. Two major listing companies
are: Telephone Preference Service
Marketing Association, 6 East
43rd Street, New York, NY 10017
and Direct Marketing Association,
6 East 43td Street, New York, NY
10017.
These careful shopping sugges
tions will help you to avoid buy
ing a get-rich-quick promise over
the phone. They will also help you
to avoid paying too much to a fit
ness club or furniture manufactur
er. Taking the time to ask ques
tions may mean saving your fami
ly hundreds of hard-earned
dollars. You may also avoid
unhealthy stress. When you hear
about an unbelievably great way
to save money, remember to ask
“What’s the catch?”
will talk about developing a busi
ness plan. A first hand experience
of running a farm vacation opera
tion will be provided by Don and
Virginia Ranck of Verdant View
Farm, Paradise. Addressing the
rules and regulations regarding
health, sanitation, and zoning will
be Joe Amy, assistant supervisor,
food protection section of Chester
County Planning Commission.
The first day will wrap up with a
discussion of insurance needs by
Jan Millin, CPCU, Millin Insur
ance.
The second day, April 3. begins
with the development of a market
ing plan by Jeff Patton, extension
agent of marketing. Dr. Saylor
will discuss basic promoting and
advertising. Hospitality issues will
be discussed by Kay Hastings and
Nancy Stevens, extension agents.
The workshop will conclude
with a panel of operators telling
about their own experiences in the
business. The Panel will consist of
A 1 and Beth Granger of Glasbem
Inn, Foglesville; Patty Benson of
The Great Valley House,
Malvern; and Dorothy Gillam,
Philadelphia.
All participants will receive
Continuing Education Units
(CEU) from Penn State Universi
ty.
All ten finalists will receive
prizes provided by the Maryland
Sheep Breeders Association, Inc.
On the basis of the judges deci
sion, prize money will be awarded
as follows: First Place - $150; Sec
ond Place - $125; Third Place •
$100; Fourth Place - $75; Fifth
Place - $5O.
How to Enter
Type pr print your recipe on an
8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper.
These recipes will not be returned,
may be reproduced for distribu
tion, and become the property of
the Maryland Sheep and Wool
Festival.
List all ingredients in order
used, no brand names.
Give complete recipe direc
tions.
Please include your name,
address, home phone, work
phone, and name of your recipe.
Mail by April 14, 1990 to
Maryland Grand Lamb Cook-Off,
c/o Annette Fleishell, 2222 Daisy
Road, Woodbine. Maryland
21797, 301-854-6741.