CREATE KIDS' COSTUMES WITH ITEMS ON HAND You don't need to spend big bucks to get a great Halloween costume for your kids. With a little bit of imagination, you should be able to look inside your closets to find easily recognizable and classic costumes.

Cowboy: Grab a pair of jeans (for girls, maybe a jean skirt), cowboy boots (or brown tennis shoes), a plaid button-up shirt, a red bandanna tied around the neck and a cowboy hat. If you have a toy holster on hand, even better. A little rope to make a fake lasso, and it's really authentic.

Littlest ghost: Take a white sheet and cut out holes where the mouth and eyes go. Outline the area with a Sharpie to give it extra oomph.

Detective: If you have a trench coat handy and a low-slung fedora hat borrowed from Dad, anyone can become a private eye. Stuff the pockets with a note pad, add a pair of cufflinks and hang some binoculars around the detective's neck.

Pirate: Use a pair of dark jeans or sweatpants (black preferred), a striped shirt, an eye patch and a little stubble created with some brown or gray eyeshadow. Top it off with a bandanna on the head and a toy sword. Argh!

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START EARLY ON FINANCES During these uncertain economic times, money is on everyone's mind. Experts agree that the earlier you start learning how to manage your finances, the better prepared you'll be to ride out the lean times.

The PBS website Your Life, Your Money (www.pbs.org/yourlifeyourmoney) offers advice for teens and young adults on saving money and keeping expenses under control. With a mix of real-life testimonials, tools and professional financial tips, Your Life, Your Money is as engaging as it is educational. It helps get young people ready for life in the real world.

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