Spare Change

Looking ahead

If you’ve taken a complaint to small claims court, there are certain things you should do to maximize your chances of attaining personal justice. The key, of course, is to be organized and prepared.

Explicitly state the damages you’re seeking and be prepared to explain your reasoning behind the amount.

Keep all documents (such as receipts, canceled checks, etc.) organized and ready to produce quickly.

ON THE Web

According to Budget Travel magazine, vacation exchange is the way to go. You simply swap your home or apartment with someone who lives where you want to visit. Several vacation exchange clubs charge a small fee for listing your home and its pertinent details. Among them:

“Homelink International lists one home for $80 a year. Additional listings cost $15 each. Visit www.home link.org.

“Intervac offers a variety of membership options (Web only or catalogue and Web), starting at $78.88 a year. Visit www.intervac.us.

“Home Exchange.com is offering a special $59.95 for one year, and if you don’t exchange your home during the first year you get a second year free.

Money tip

Understanding how annuities work can prove tricky.

To help sort out questions about annuities, several Web sites offer a range of information. Here are a few:

“Annuity Advantage

www.annuity advantage.com

Covers a wide range of annuity related topics and issues.

“AnnuityFYI

www.annuityfyi .com/annuity- basics.html

Offers overview of annuities, the different types and investment considerations.

“Annuity Shopper

www.annuity shopper.com/ annuityinvest ments/

Explains different annuity types and options, and includes annuity calculator and rates information.