Know Thyself

Your Vital Info: 26 facts to know about yourself - and how to find them.

Your Allergies - the most common, quick and reliable analysis is a skin test. Your skin is pricked with drops of particular allergen extracts. If small, raised bumps develop, the test results are positive.

Your Genetic Vulnerabilities: If you have a family history of certain medical disorders such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer, you have a higher-than-average risk of contracting those illnesses. Ask your older relatives if they can recall any pattern of diseases. Also, ask about your relatives' causes of death and obtain their official death certificates which can give clues to potentially fatal hereditary conditions. Go to www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm and click on the link for death certificates.

Your License-Plate Number: If your car is stolen or towed, you'll need the license number to report or reclaim it. If you find your license-plate number hard to memorize, try turning the letters and numbers into an acronym.

Your Credit Score: Go to myfico.com. A report from one of the three credit bureaus costs about $15. A score of 650 to 700 on the FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) scale is the most commonly used credit score system and is considered above average. To remedy inaccuracies, call the customer service departments of the companies that have supplied the incorrect information.

Your Emergency Contact Numbers: In case of dead cell phone batteries, make a list of numbers you've memorized and those you haven't. Post copies on the fridge, by the pone and in your wallet or day planner.

Details of Your Will: If you die without a Will, a judge distributes your estate and delegates the care of minor children. As long as your instructions are fairly simple, you can prepare a Will yourself using a form @ http://www.legalzoom.com/ and http://www.nolo.com/. To be valid, the document must indicate who is making the Will, name the beneficiaries and what they will receive, and be signed by you and a least two witnesses. If you wish to leave more complex instructions, hire an attorney.

The Location of your Parents' Wills: Even if you're sure a Will exists and it can't be located, a judge will distribute the estate. Ask your parents where they keep their Wills.

Your Health Insurance Details: Read your benefits package noting the limits on types of coverage, providers and their locations, and any actions that must be taken immediately after an emergency to have treatment costs reimbursed.

Your Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Glucose Levels: These stats are the key to preventing the biggest killer of Americans: heart disease. Schedule an annual physical and consult the American Heart Association's Doctor Visit Guide @ http://www.goredforwomen.com/.

Which Tax Form is for You: Whether you're single or married, of your household income is less that 100,000 and you have no major deductions, you can probably file the simplest form, the 1040EZ. The 1040A is appropriate for those in the same category who have kids or who want further tax credit options. Those with complicated taxes who wish to itemize deductions should file a 1040. If you have an accountant do your taxes, never mind...

If You Stand to Inherit Money from a Deceased Relative: If you don't claim it, the State does. Go to http://www.unclaimed.org/ for help in finding your state's site but this can only help you if you know the deceased relative's name.

Your Estimated Ideal Caloric Intake: a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet is not right for everybody. To compute take your weight, divide by 2.2 and multiply by 30. This is the amount of calories your body needs to function each day.

Your Clothing Measurements: Knowing these will increase your odds of the perfect fit, especially when ordering online. Ask a tailor to measure your neck, chest, bust, arm length, waist, heps and inseam and keep these numbers near the computer where you do any online ordering.

Your Blood Type: If you have been pregnant, donated blood, had surgery or received a blood transfusion, you have probably been typed. Contact the hospital or blood center for this information, or ask to be typed the next time you have blood work done.

Your Skin Type: To determine which types of cleansers, moisturizers and makeup are best for your skin, you need to know whether it's dry, oily, combination or sensitive. There are tricks, like running your finger down your nose around noon (if you finger is greasy, you have oily skin, a dry finger means you have dry skin). But considering the cost of cosmetics, it's worth consulting a dermatologist to be sure.

*Eight things that are handy (or just fun) to know (answers will be personal):

three easy ways to beat a bad mood: because chocolate isn't always available - like when the cop is writing up your speeding ticket...

your never-fail lip color: So you can feel fabulous in a flash. (keep one in every bag)

your personality type: To make the most of who you are. (http://www.myersbriggs.org/)

your greatest strengths and weaknesses: for a fast answer to the inevitable job-interview question.

how to give good directions to your home: so the dinner you slaved over doesn't go cold.

what time you were born: to thank Mom at just the right minute each year. (and to get your precise astrological chart.)

your partner's shirt and pant size: because telling the male shop assistant, "he's about your size" won't make that birthday present fit.

the names of the trees in our yard: so you have a clever answer for all those visitors who ask.

your mother-in-law's favorite flower: you know why.