The Newspaper Association of America reports that there are more than 54 million newspapers sold daily. It's true that a newspaper is something to be sought after one minute and the stuff you wrap your breakables in the next. Each edition does have a very short shelf life. However, each edition is also filled with up-to-the-minute resources that you can make the most of, providing you do that within their limited time period. Because newspapers are arranged in categories, many people go to the sections they have an interest in or are used to reading and then ignore the rest of the paper.

By doing this however, readers are missing out on a lot of possibly useful and relevant information, announcements and deals. MOVING If you rent an apartment or house and know you'll be moving at some point in the near future, checking out the houses and apartments in the classified section regularly that are for rent could alert you to rental prices for areas you might want to relocate to and offer you phone numbers of landlords or rental persons you might want to contact. LEARNING If you would like to take another course but are not sure which would be best for your job ensurability, then if read through the want ads regularly you'll notice what employers are listing as recommended qualifications. If a specific computer or business skill appears often, then a course teaching it would be a good one to sign up for.

SUPPORT People who are going through tough times could use prayers said on their behalf. Newspapers provide stories and names of persons who could use some lifting up in prayer by you and those in the congregation of the church you attend. ADVISING If people are often asking for your advice about one personal situation or another that they find themselves in the midst of and you're never quite sure what to say to them, read the advice columns and see how the "experts" answer. Their answers might give you inspiration for expressing your own ideas. HELPING AND SAVING Some yard and garage sales benefit local causes. If you keep alert for their postings, you'll not only be helping a local group, you'll more than likely find some very nice items priced very inexpensively.

A NEW DIRECTION There are listings of support groups meetings updated and announced in newspapers. If you know someone who really would benefit from one of them, tell them about it, suggest they see what it's like and volunteer to go with them the first time. INCENTIVE Local events are often mentioned ahead of time.

If there is one you want to participate in, by knowing about it in advance, you have the opportunity to contact the sponsor, sign up if it's necessary and prepare for it. You can also use the advance notice of events you would like to attend as incentive to accomplish short-term goals or complete tasks you keep putting off. Make a deal with yourself (one that you intend to follow through with) that if you accomplish the goal or complete the task in time you can go to the event.

If not, then you can't. Great incentive to keep busy with plans and tasks. EXPRESSING Letters to the editor are usually interesting. This section is the "voice" of your town or city and you can learn more than you might realize about it by reading the opinions printed there.

Write a few of you know so others can know your opinions as well. ASSORTMENT Occasionally, businesses will offer discounts that you can only take advantage of by presenting them with the coupon that was in the newspaper. Banks advertise special rates in the local papers. Public service announcements are made, such as "there will be no trash pick up on Monday" or "Main and Elm Streets will be closed to traffic Thursday due to construction".

You'll also be informed of utility rate increases so you don't faint the next time you open the envelope with your bill in it. Local newspapers have a lot to offer if you make the most of them. .

By: Regenia G. Butcher