Good Ideas

• Line all your dress shoes with pieces of suede leather to avoid sqeaking, slipping and sweaty feet. (leather available at Michael's). Cut piece of leather long ways in two, at a slight diagonal. Pour foot powder into each shoes and shake around until thoroughly covered. Press leather into shoe, pushing down into the corners. When you pull the leather out, you will have a perfect outline of the shoe interior from the powder. Cut out along the powder line and glue into shoe with fabric glue.

• Get extra lean ground beef for a small price. Buy London Broil or Chuck Roast when on sale. ($1.57 a lb at Stater Bros.) Have the butcher grind up two large steaks. Grind twice for finer texture. Once home, separate into 1 to 1 1/2 lbs portions in freezer ziplock bags. Close bags and press flat, expelling as much air as possible. Stack and freeze. The flattened meat with thaw quickly in the fridge or hot water. You now have extra lean ground beef at $1.57 lb, and it's ready to cook straight from your freezer.

• Tired of your old clothes and books? Have an Exchange Party! Sort through your closet and bookshelves. Find whatever you haven't touched in the past year and pull it out. Invite your friends to do the same and bring their findings over with their favorite appetizer. Display clothes on curtain rods and strung, knotted rope. Arrange books on folding tables and stacks. Everyone gets to choose whatever they like and take it home for free. Whatever is left over gets donated to charity. (Tips: Make sure you have at least two rooms available as fitting rooms. If there is a dispute over an item, solve it the old fashioned way, Rock Paper Scissors.)