WGN's Click This

Click this for WGN-TV's ongoing coverage of the 2008 elections.

Which 2008 Presidential Candidate Agrees With You?

Go to www.vajoe.com to find out

RECYCLE XMAS TREES CITYWIDE ON SAT JAN 12, 08

Don’t Throw out your Christmas Tree.

Instead turn Green into Blue and recycle that old tree!

On Saturday, January 12, 2008 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Extended hours) bring your used real tree (without decorations) or a bag of recyclables to 1 of
23 sites citywide and receive a bag of fragrant mulch and a choice of

a compact fluorescent bulb, a reusable water bottle or a years supply of blue bags. Items could vary in quantity by location. Be early as supplies are limited.

For more info call 311 or visit www.cityofchicago.org and select “Green to Blue Christmas Tree Recyclng” Under Chicago Headlines.

For more information about the puppies:

(708) 636-8586 or www.animalwelfareleague.com

February 1-29

Millennium Park

For more information:

www.museumofmodernice.com

www.choosechicago.com

www.voterinfonet.com

Interested in reading Chicago's entire plan for the 2016 Olympic Games? Click to chicago2016.org to find out all of the details that Chicago is proposing. It's also in French!

Terry Savage, Financial Columnist
www.terrysavage.com

Terry's Tips:
1. Figure Out Your Finances (pile up those credit card bills and make a list. total up your monthly expenses, including paying at least the minimum on your bills, more if possible)

2. Get More Work -- (now, before there are a lot more people out of work, take a second job, or have your spouse or teens consider getting a job. Maybe not in your line of business, but maybe even as a waiter, waitress, sales clerk) And extra money will help you pay down your debt.

3. Pay Down Debt (if you double the min payment on your credit card, and keep making that same payment every month, and don't charge more, you'll be out of debt in less than 3 years.

4. Deal with Your Mortgage -- contact your lender or servicer if you even think you'll have problems. If you have an adjustable rate, quickly shop around for a fixed rate -- if the home is still worth at least the amount of your mortgage. If you have an FHA loan, and are not behind, call 800-CALL-FHA for a new program they have to refinance you out of an adjustable rate loan.

5. Stop Shopping! Start Saving! (Yes, I know this would guarantee a recession if everyone did it -- but Im talking to YOU. And you must stop shopping for anything but necessities, and start Saving cash for a rainy day, or a hurricane if that's what's upon us.

If you're in over your head, call Consumer Credit Counseling Services -- 800-388-2227

Explaining the diamond suit settlement
Q: What's it about?
A: Under a proposed settlement of class-action lawsuits against the De Beers diamond company, consumers who bought diamonds between Jan. 1, 1994 and March 31, 2006, can apply for rebates.
Q: Who's eligible?
A: Anyone who bought diamonds or diamond jewelry in the U.S. during the covered period.
Q: How much can I get?
A: Payments could range from 6 percent to 59 percent of the retail price, depending on the value and type of jewelry. For example, diamond rings priced between $1,000-$5,499 are eligible for a maximum 32 percent refund.
Q: Where do I sign up?
A: Details of the settlement and online claim forms are available at www.diamondsclassaction.com
Q: What's the catch?
A: The total value of the settlement is $295 million, so the more consumers who make claims, the smaller each individual rebate will be.

Home Remedies
If reaching for the Pepto-Bismol or DayQuil for your kid makes you a little nervous, see if an all-natural cure can do the trick. Alexandra Zissu makes suggestions in an article in Cookie Magazine.

www.cookiemag.com

To register, call the Department for Aging: 1-800-252-8966 or 1-800-447-4278. The benefit is available for those aged 65 and older.

For veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, there's a toll-free, 24 hour help line: 1(866) 554-IWAP (4927).

Today is the last day you can head to the polls for early voting. So far more than 53 thousand people in Illinois have taken advantage of it. Those who don't choose to vote today, will have to wait to cast their ballot on Super Tuesday.
Early voting sites are open until 5 PM tonight.
To find the voting location near you go to: www.elections.il.gov