time |Internet alternative to antiques shop hop: Fans of mid-century modernism can stop pounding the pavement in search of the perfect rug or pillow to go with their one-of-a-kind vintage sofa. Chiasso.com boasts an array of furniture and accessories with the same hip, urban look that appeals to modern-design fans. The site is rooted in the same simple aesthetic procured by muses such as Marcel Breuer and Gio Ponti. Great finds include orange flower-print toasters and sleek brushed-cotton chaises. |Knight Ridder
money| Battling the insurance-card bulge: Spring is the time to clean out more than closets and cabinets: Spruce up the bills folder. Contact agents with each of your insurance providers to find out about savings offered to customers who buy more than one policy from a single company. Finance experts report that consolidating insurance policies with one company can save hundreds a year.|Quick & Simple
supplies| A cleanup job for lost and lonely socks: No need to invest in fancy cleaning tools to tackle dingy Venetian blinds. Here’s an option that makes use of all those single socks the dryer god apparently forgot to steal when it nabbed the mates: Lightly dampen an old sock and put it over your hand. Then, run the “besocked” hand between the slats of the blinds to capture dust. |”The Complete Idiots Guide to Cleaning” (Alpha, $14.95)
