CARIBBEAN TODAY


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~ A Caribbean Today special feature


Tips to keep kids safe online


The end of summer
 means it's time to head
 back to school. It also
means kids are spending more
time online prepping for the


With the cost of food,
 fashion and living
 steeply on the rise in
the United States, it is no sur-
prise that college tuition costs
are also greatly increasing
from year to year.
 Students and their fami-
lies paid on average from $108
to $1,398 more in the 2008-09
school year than the previous
year for tuition and fees, a
trend that is likely to continue
well past 2009, according to
the College Board.
 Here are some simple
ways your family can save
money while still getting
everything you need for going
back to college:

* Don't double up Call your
roommate(s) and coordinate
who is bringing what. No sense
splurging on a microwave if
your roommate is already
planning to bring one.


* Smaller is better Buying in
bulk may seem like a good
idea, but food can go bad,
storage is limited, and it's easy
for bulk items to go to waste.
Buy only what you need when
you need it, and if you want
more, go back.

* From trash to treasure For
furniture and items like lamps,
desks and bedside tables, shop
at garage sales. Prices are
cheaper to begin with since
the items are used, and you
can negotiate.

RE-STOCKING
 For one-stop shopping for
everything else on a budget,
most college campuses feature
at least one mass retailer with-
in a 10-mile radius: from Wal-
Mart, Target and Kmart to
Bed Bath and Beyond. Now
when students and their fami-
lies stock up on everything
from school supplies to toi-


letries, they can also re-stock
their wardrobes.
 "Many people don't think
of Target as denim destina-
tion," says Jenifer DeSofi,
senior merchant for Signature
by Levi Strauss & Co. Men's
Department. "We created a
line of stylish, high-quality
jeans for men in a variety of
popular fits like the Slim
Straight, Loose and Bootcut.
All our jeans are available for
under $30 to answer the needs
of the value-minded con-
sumer."
 Authentics Signature by
Levi Strauss & Co. jeans are
available at Target stores and
for men and kids. All styles
retail for under $30. Visit
www.signaturebylevistrauss.co
m/us for more information.

- Courtesy of ARA content


avoid online Ir,,LiL,"
 Teach your kids to stay
away from free downloads
like screensavers, surveys and
online club registrations.
Many of these I rL s ", like
games and wallpaper, include
hidden spyware and adware
programs. These can monitor
keystrokes, track Internet
logins and transmit confiden-
tial information.
 Lock your valuables -
protect against viruses and
malware
 Some e-mails contain
harmful software that can dam-
age your computer or track
your Internet activities all
without you knowing. Anti-
virus and anti-spyware software
as well as a two-way firewall
will protect you from inadver-
tently accepting unwanted files
attached to e-mails.
 Hall monitors needed -
be aware of all online activi-
ties Help your kids be respon-
sible online by blocking inap-
propriate sites and preventing
risky online activity.
 For tips on keeping your
computer and kids safe, please
visit www.mcafee.com/advice.

- Courtesy of ARA content
0


upcoming school year, finish-
ing summer homework lists
and reconnecting with sum-
mer friends.
 Likewise, cybercriminals
are online targeting them
through e-mail, IM and phish-
ing scams, and even trying to
make contact on social net-
working sites, blogs and chat
rooms. What's a parent to do?
 But parents don't need to
worry. Experts at computer
security company McAfee
have some simple ways to
keep kids safe online so par-
ents can have peace of mind.
 There's no free lunch -


 It's tug-o-war over the back-to-school budget
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19) out the door, "shop" around notebooks you'd stocked up
save hundreds of dollars on your house first. You'd be on earlier, and then put away
the clothing and supplies on amazed what you can find and forgotten about.
your list. when you look around in
your drawers and in the back of Courtesy of ARAcontent
 Stop before you hit the your closet. You may even
store Before you even head find a bounty of pens and


How to save when college costs rise


August 2009


W-www.caribbeantoday.com


INFII"-
 B n C K