Reduce caffeine intake.

In small, irregular doses, caffeine can be medicinal. It increases bile flow, which stimulates the gall bladder and reduces cholesterol.

But in regular doses, it can hinder a number of body systems that are responsible for responding to stress.

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Minimize your child's bad dreams

Discuss pleasant events at bedtime... and monitor TV shows and books that might scare him/her.

If your child has a nightmare, it is all right to try to wake him and reassure him. If he tells you in the morning about a bad dream, say the experience must have been very scary--but emphasize that it was not real.

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EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION

Employees are becoming more sophisticated about their pay, and more employees of firms both large and small want an equity share in the business. In a very tight job market, a company may have to provide it to retain top performers.

This can pose a problem for private firms that wish to keep ownership within a small group, such as a family. Possibilities. . .

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Ways to make family vacations fun:

Stay relaxed.

Don’t try to do too much in too little time.

Spend time doing little things -- taking walks or watching special programs.

Do not overspend or overschedule --

the most valuable gift you can give a child is time together.

Pick one activity a day to do with him/her, such as making a photo album.

Consider a change-of-scene vacation near home -- stay overnight at a nearby hotel.

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Uncover House Troubles Before You Buy

Home prices are skyrocketing, so the last thing you want to do is buy a house that needs costly, unexpected repairs. Big home defects and how to uncover them...

Tilted floor. Place a large marble in each corner of a room with a hard floor surface--no carpeting. If the marble rolls to the other side, the house may be sinking on one side. Repeat in all rooms.

Repair cost: As much as $15,000 to $25,000.

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Take the dollar-bill test

Take the dollar-bill test to check if the refrigerator door is closing tightly. Close it on a dollar, then slowly pull out the bill. You should feel some tension. If not, tilt the refrigerator slightly back by adjusting the feet.

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