The Other New Year: Resolutions

BOSTON (CBS) - Labor Day is next Monday. That's the unofficial end of summer!

And with that the school year begins. A new year for the kids are going into new grades with new teachers. We spent weeks in August helping them get ready for this new year.

I, for one, would like the official New Year to start September 1. The Jewish New Year is always in September.  September always feels like a new beginning. The seasons are changing, the weather is changing, we even change our wardrobes. It all smacks of a new year.

So in the spirit of a new year let's talk about the resolutions you made last January but still have not gotten around to do.

With fall about to start most home owners begin to think about the house chores that got put off simply because it was too hot this summer. I know I had thought about painting but deemed it too hot and humid to start work on the garage doors.

Cooler days make it easier to work outside. Your largest asset may very well be your home so what maintenance do you need to do to get it in shape for the winter? Painting on your list? The sun can do as much damage as wind & rain. Paint peeling or chipped? Faded?

Invest in the best paint. The labor is the same cost and if you are doing it yourself it will take the same amount of time whether you use the cheap stuff or the really good stuff. It truly is a good investment.

Tree pruning? Many of our trees were damaged by the drought this summer. You may want to wait till next spring to see if they will make it before you start cutting.

Check your chimney and the flues when you have your furnace serviced this fall. Do they need to be cleaned?

Check what you can to save on energy costs this winter. Most of our energy loss is through our attics, windows and doors. This is a good time to replace those old windows.

Check the doors next. Do you need a storm door or weather stripping? Do these chores now before the real cold settles in.

One more thing:  Check out the U.S. Department of Energy's website on where to begin.

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You can hear Dee Lee's expert financial advice on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 each weekday at 1:55 p.m., 3:55 p.m., and 7:55 p.m.

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