INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Toward the end of fall, take your car to the shop to get a routine check up and make sure everything is in working order. The last thing you need in icy conditions is for your car to break down while snow piles up on the windshield. When you take your car to get winterized, have the mechanic check the following, and replace anything that isn't working properly: Tires and tire pressure Battery Belts and hoses Radiator Brakes Exhaust system Heater Oil Lights Ignition system Wipers If your area is ice all the time,install spiked tyres. They will puncture the ice,which will boost your friction greatly. Even if your mechanic thinks you have some life left in your tires, if you're heading into an icy winter, you might want to think about getting new ones. The biggest hazard in winter driving is sliding on ice due to poor traction. It's a safety risk no matter what the state of your tires is, but if your tread depth is getting low you're at greater risk of wiping out. The tire-industry standard for good snow and ice traction is a 6/32-inch tread. Make sure the tires you pick out will do an adequate job in the conditions you'll be facing. Tires designed for high performance in summer don't do well on icy roads. If your facing a long, harsh winter, you might want to invest in winter tires. They're designed with a deeper tread that works well in icy and snowy conditions. In cold weather, tire pressure naturally drops. Tires that aren't fully inflated can have a slower reaction time when you're trying to steer, which could be dangerous when there's ice on the road. Check your tire pressure every few weeks to make sure they're fully inflated. To check your tire pressure, use a gauge to determine the tire's pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure. See whether it's lower than the recommended pressure for your tires. If you need to adjust the pressure, find a source of air (gas stations have them, as do body shops) and fill the tires one by one, checking the pressure frequently to make sure you don't overfill them. Snow chains and other devices designed to give the tires more traction on ice are good to have in the trunk in case a blizzard blows in. The chains aren't difficult to fasten around the tires, and you take them off as soon as the roads are dry again. Talk with your mechanic about which type of device is best for your vehicle. If you live in a region with steep hills and lots of ice, or in a place where salt trucks don't routinely come by to treat the streets, get top-of-the line snow chains that are easy to take on and off when visibility is low. If you're traveling through notoriously icy terrain, you might see signs specifying that snow chains are mandatory. If you're on a trip and you didn't buy snow chains beforehand, you can pick them up at most stores that sell auto parts. The most important thing about driving in harsh icy and winter conditions is to always be prepared. In the winter months, this means you should have jumper cables and an emergency driving kit stored in your vehicle's trunk. Just in case you get stranded for several hours, it's a good idea to have a supply of food, water and blankets as well. Always bring along a cell phone when you go out in icy driving conditions. Fender benders and more serious accidents are extremely common when there's ice around, and you want to be able to call for help right away. You might want to look into getting a AAA membership or having a local tower's number handy as well.

SUMMARY: Get a basic maintenance check up. Get new tires if your treads are wearing out. Check your tire pressure throughout the winter. Consider investing in snow chains. Be prepared in case your car breaks down.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The effective interest rate attempts to describe the full cost of borrowing. It takes into account the effect of compounding interest, which is left out of the nominal or "stated" interest rate. For example, a loan with 10 percent interest compounded monthly will actually carry an interest rate higher than 10 percent, because more interest is accumulated each month. The effective interest rate calculation does not take into account one-time fees like loan origination fees. These fees are considered, however, in the calculation of the annual percentage rate. The stated (also called nominal) interest rate will be expressed as a percentage. The stated interest rate is usually the "headline" interest rate. It's the number that the lender typically advertises as the interest rate. The compounding periods will generally be monthly, quarterly, annually, or continuously. This refers to how often the interest is applied. Usually, the compounding period is monthly. You'll still want to check with your lender to verify that, though.

SUMMARY: Familiarize yourself with the concept of the effective interest rate. Determine the stated interest rate. Determine the number of compounding periods for the loan.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Sometimes physical touch can make a world of difference to someone who is upset. If you and your sister are physically affectionate, reach out and give her a good hug. If you know she sometimes doesn't like to be touched, try to respect that. Ask her before going in for the hug. Just say, "You look like you could use a hug. Can I give you one?" Offering a distraction is a great way to help someone find some relief. Look for something creative to do that will take her mind off of things but doesn't require that much brainpower. Suggest some options that you think she might enjoy. For example, you could say, "Hey, do you want to focus on something else for a bit? I could use some help designing my holiday card." If she likes fashion, you could ask her to do some online shopping with you. Exercise is a great way to deal with negative emotions. Suggest getting up and moving around. Just make sure to pick something that's in her comfort zone so that you don't cause her more stress. For example, if your sister has asthma, don't ask her to go for a challenging run. Instead say, "I found a great new yoga studio. Do you want to go stretch it out and forget your worries for an hour?" Grabbing a bite to eat can be a simple way to help your sister feel better. Maybe as kids you two enjoyed ice cream. Offer to take her out for a scoop! If you enjoy cooking, offer to cook her favorite dish. Better yet, cook a meal together! The treat doesn't have to be food. You could head out to get a manicure together. If you two have any inside jokes, now is the time to try one out. As her sister, you can probably make her laugh as well as anyone, so give it a go. Make a joke or make a silly face. Maybe it's time to pull out that impersonation of your mother that always cracks her up. You could also turn on a funny show or ask if she wants to watch a silly movie. If she doesn't feel like laughing, that's okay. Just try other ways to comfort her. Fresh air can do a lot of good when someone is feeling down. Try to get your sister to step outside with you, even if it's just for a little bit. Of course, if the weather is awful, you can save this option for another time. Ask if she wants to go on a walk. You could even just sit together on the porch with a cup of tea.

SUMMARY:
Offer her a hug. Find a creative project to work on together. Do a physical activity to work through the stress. Go out for a treat together. Look for ways to make her laugh. Encourage her to go outside.