New ‘Home’ book aimed at DIY-ers

The editors of Budget Living magazine believe style doesn’t come from a store. It comes from within, and it doesn’t have to carry a big price tag.

That’s the attitude they’ve brought to their trendy publication, and it’s one they’ve expanded on in their new book, “Home Cheap Home: A Room-By-Room Guide to Great Decorating.”

The book is aimed at do-it-yourselfers who take pride in creating homes with a personal flair. It combines some of the best ideas from the magazine with fresh material to provide 192 pages of skin-flint inspiration.

“Home Cheap Home” is published by Perigee Books and is priced at $19.95 in softcover.

How to repair broken stuff

For some of us, fixing a broken appliance seems an impossible task. Our first instinct — call the handyman. But that’s not so for Dan and Judy Ramsey. The husband and wife, authors of the new book “If It’s Broke, Fix It!” (Alpha Books, 2003, $21.95), available at Amazon.com, are fix-it gurus. Their book aims to help ordinary homeowners repair most any household problem — from a leaky faucet to a broken coffee maker to a broken doorbell to a clogged drain.

Tips on moving with your pet

Moving your pet? Here are a few suggestions from the Humane Society:

Invest in a high-quality, sturdy pet carrier. Accustom your pet to staying in it well in advance.

Update your pet’s ID tag with your new address and telephone numbers.

On moving day, place your pet in a safe, quiet place, such as the bathroom, so that he or she cannot escape.

Dogs should be in restraining harnesses while traveling in a car. Cats are safest when transported in well-ventilated and securely placed carriers.

Listings of pet-friendly hotels will help you find overnight lodging during your move. The Humane Society Web site has a list of pet-friendly hotels at www.hsus.org/11828.