Consumer Tips and Reports

Easy Meals for the Busy Professional

2012-05-16T23:24:52Z

To harried modern professionals -- especially the singles among us -- easy meals are always welcome. Often there just isn't enough time in the workweek to waste any of it in the kitchen, beyond preparing the occasional sandwich.

The Essentials of Password Safety

2012-04-23T19:46:59Z

You've probably heard a lot about password safety. Many people, though, think they don't need to worry. They assume that their password is unique, that nothing could ever happen to them, or that they don't use passwords enough to make it an issue.

But the simple truth is that your online safety and financial security are strongly related to password security. Here are just some of the problems that can follow a password hack.

Money Saving Coupons Make a Difference

2012-04-16T19:44:46Z

If you're looking for money saving coupons, you probably fall into the huge percentage of Americans looking for ways to save. That was me, too, just a little while ago. I never really thought about how to save money with coupons because I associated them with old ladies trying to save ten cents on yogurt -- in other words, not worth clipping because they didn't make enough of a difference.

I needed to learn the real ins and outs of how to save money on groceries, not how to save 10 cents here and 20 there. But to my surprise, money saving coupons really do... well, save money!

How to Resist Impulse Buying

2012-04-09T19:42:15Z

If you've caught yourself impulse buying, you're not alone. In fact, many stores depend on the impulse buy, because they know if you stick strictly to items you need (or worse yet, those on a list!) they aren't going to get as much money as possible out of you.

So although it's your responsibility to resist the impulse purchase, you aren't necessarily a shopping compulsive just because you can't seem to resist those last minute buys. Stores set themselves up to direct you into impulse buying. Not sure how that can be? Just keep reading!

Donate to Charity Safely and Responsibly

2012-03-26T19:39:04Z

In spite of the economy, many people still want to donate to charity. In fact, charitable donations have not taken much of a blow in spite of the current economic situation. Americans are generous people, and they realize that they are well off compared to the rest of the world.

It's wonderful to donate to charity, and I highly recommend it -- but that doesn't mean you should do so blindly. Unfortunately, not all charity organizations are what they seem to be. The worst types of crooks take advantage of your caring and decency by posing as charities and either taking all the money for themselves or donating only a very small portion to actual charity.

Fortunately, it's not all that hard to make sure your charitable donations go where they belong. Just a bit of charity research can make the difference.

How to Spot an Insurance Scam

2012-03-12T13:41:23Z

The insurance scam is, at its heart, straightforward robbery. The great thing about it (for the scammer, not you) is that they don't just steal from you once and run away. They get to keep stealing from you every month in the form of monthly payments, and if they're lucky -- and there's a good chance they will be -- you'll never even know.

Let's face it: most people don't need to use insurance very often. If it's something like medical insurance, then yes, you'll need it for common things like doctor visits and medication. But car insurance, home insurance, life insurance? These are the big ticket items that we hope we'll never need.

How to Change Shopping From Me to We

2012-02-27T14:26:34Z

The Me to We movement offers a great opportunity for ethical shopping. It's not hard to find fair trade products and even eco friendly products these days. Most large centers have fair trade specialty stores, and a lot of major supermarkets and other chains have jumped on the ethical band wagon.

Even some major brands such as Cadbury have made a move towards greater responsibility by making their Dairy Milk bars fair trade. But for some reason, it's still difficult to find fair trade clothing. Getting clothes that don't cost a fortune, are made from eco friendly products, and don't involve slave labour can be a really difficult thing to do.

Make Sure Your Car Accident Isn't Insurance Fraud

2012-02-13T14:21:08Z

Insurance fraud is increasingly common these days. It takes many forms, but one of the most disturbing is "staged" accidents. These accidents, also called accident fraud, are exactly what they sound like. You're in a seemingly random collision that turns out to be not so random.

Now, you might be thinking, who in their right mind would stage a car accident just to get a bit of insurance money? You have to understand it's not a 'bit' of money -- or at least, it won't be once they're done. These criminals have all sorts of ways to amp up their accident fraud until insurance companies are paying through their teeth -- and trust me, your premiums will reflect it.

Responsible Credit Card Use

2012-01-23T15:27:49Z

I learned about responsible credit card use the hard way. Since then, it's become part of my mission to make sure other people don't suffer the same problems I did. Credit card debt is something that can get out of control very quickly, and it can literally ruin your life. Take steps to prevent those problems before they happen.

Are Extended Warranties Worth It?

2012-01-09T15:23:34Z

Every electronic shop in the world pushes extended warranties. In fact, at the big chains, employees earn bonuses for selling an extended warranty to a customer. That in and of itself doesn't mean an extended warranty is a bad thing -- many companies encourage sales through commissions and bonuses. But it does beg the question, why the focus on getting customers to buy extended warranty services?

Garage Sale Tips for Saving Money

2011-12-19T15:18:43Z

Who needs garage sale tips? You go to the sales, you look at the items, you either buy or you don't. It's not exactly rocket science.

Well, that's true -- but if you're really out to get the most from a garage sale, there's a lot more to it than you might think. Learning how to garage sale can mean the difference between a morning of pleasant browsing and a morning of unique treasures. Sure, they're both fun in their own way -- but if there are things you actually need, I'm sure you know which you'd prefer.

So if you're really out to save money and have fun, use these garage sale tips to plan your attack.

Save Energy, Save Money: A Simple Equation

2011-12-05T14:56:03Z

Summer's coming, and you want to save energy. Between fans, air conditioning, and the kids blaring the TV and lights 24-7, summer energy bills can really drain you. Fortunately, it's not all that hard to save money and energy, even in the hot and sticky summer months.

There are many ways to save energy as long as you get the family on board. Not only will you save valuable money for a family holiday or outing, you'll be helping the environment and 'going green' is one of the best ways possible.

Saving Money With Your Kids

2011-11-16T03:40:41Z

Kids need to learn about saving money as much as they need to learn how to read. In spite of what some parents think, spoiling your children does not show them how much you love them. It's called spoiling for a reason, after all. It only helps them grow up to be clueless about money (and have an attitude besides).

Owning Pets Without Going Broke

2011-11-08T03:36:17Z

If you have pets, you know they're expensive. I have pets myself, and the combination of food, grooming, vet bills, and what have you -- it's through the roof! If you don't think you're spending a lot on your pets, sit down one month and really track everything you spend, from your regular dog food to the occasional treat or scratching post. You might find a surprise.

Pay Off Your Mortgage The Best Way Possible

2011-10-18T02:30:59Z

Who likes a mortgage? A hundred years ago you bought a house in cash, and now you spent fifty years of your life in debt paying the darn thing off. If you want to get really depressed, take a look at how much of your annual payment actually goes towards the principal on your loan.