Suggested Readings

 

To assist our readers, the Slightly Creaky editors scour the Internet for articles of interest that may have been missed by both mainstream print and Internet media. Many of these come from lesser known journals and news sources, yet may have more impact on your lives than what appears on television and in the newspapers.

On our Home Page you will find the last five days of "Suggested Reading" links, along with a brief quote from each so the content is obvious. Once we remove it from the home page the articles are moved here so they can be referred to. To maintain a reasonable size and relevancy, we archive items for up to two months only.

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May 18

How to Make a Low Fat Salad
It’s what is added to our salads that gets us into trouble.

"Harmless" Errors Affect Credit Scores
Because there are insufficient rules on how credit-reporting agencies must correct them,
Americans are left virtually powerless to erase the mistakes.

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May 17

Tips to Cut Your Cell Phone Bill
If overpaying for what you need sounds like a bad idea to you, stop doing it.

Coupon Clipping as the Key to Economic Rebirth
Wait for items to go on sale and then use coupons to buy them.

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May 16

Insurance You Can Live Without
Millions of consumers file claims every year against a variety of policies only to find
the money spent on premiums was virtually thrown away.

Price Tricks Businesses Use to Fool Customers
Usually, the price on the sticker is the price you pay. But when it isn’t – well, that’s
when some companies earn big bucks from our collective ignorance. 

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May 15

Sippy Cups and Other Little-Known Childhood Hazards
"Pediatrics highlight several under-recognized causes of injury in young children: bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups, which cause thousands of injuries to the mouth and teeth every year."

A 10-Second Collect Call Cost $37.66?
Stop calling collect from pay phones.

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May 14

What to Do When Children See Porn
It can happen at as early an age as 6 or 7,
when a child may not yet understand the basic mechanics of sex.

Best Tips for Smart Home Improvement
Take advantage of the nice weather to get your property in shape.

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May 13

Sleeping in Saturday May be Bad for Health
People who vary sleep times to catch up on weekends are at increased
risk of being overweight.

Disease-Bearing Mosquitoes Show Up Early This Year
All types of insect pests – particularly mosquitoes –
are showing up early because of the early end to winter weather.

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May 12

Protect Yourself and Your Money
This pamphlet will describe some typical financial frauds and scams and
suggest how to protect yourself and your money.

Two New Resources to Curb Prescription Drug Abuse
From Medscape Psychiatry

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May 11

Learn About the Law (from FindLaw.com)
Looking for legal information? In legal trouble? Learn About the Law
is your starting place for help understanding the law.

Norovirus Outbreak Traced to Reusable Grocery Bag
Norovirus is the leading cause food-borne illness in the U.S.

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May 10

Some Sites to Visit:

Best and Worst Things to Buy in May

Zone Alarm Offers Free Firewall and AntiVirus Program

Prepaid Cards Growing in Popularity
How do you decide if it's right for you?

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May 9

Shop Wisely When Buying Prepaid Phone Cards
Phone cards may seem like a cheap way to make an overseas call,
but it's hard to tell whether you're really getting their money's worth.

Meaning in Madness
New theories of psychosis.

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May 8

Eat to Lower Your Risk of Dementia
The food you eat may have a lot to do with the health of your brain as you age.

Seniors Are Postponing Retirement
40 percent of older Americans postponed retirement after 2008.

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May 7

The Surprising Shortcut to Better Health
We don’t need to run marathons, sweat it out on exercise bikes or
measure our peak oxygen uptake. We just need to do something.

Energy Drinks May Wreck Your Teeth
The average enamel lost with sports drinks was about 1.5%,
while the average loss with energy drinks was more than 3%.

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May 6

Should You 'Friend' Your Kids?
A blessing, a curse or a combination of both?

Parents Play Favorites When Helping Adult Kids Out
About 42% of parents help adult children pay their bills.

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May 5

E.R. Doctors Face Quandary on Painkillers
From 1997 to 2007, painkillers were prescribed in three of four
visits to the emergency department.

Understanding the Fine Print
Companies can use lots of confusing language to limit your options
and to angle agreements in their favor. Here are the four
most egregious things to smoke out before you sign:.

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May 4

Signs Your Used Car Is Really A Rebuilt Wreck
Once the vehicle is all fixed up and shiny, how is the average car buyer to know the difference?

Free Ways to Celebrate Mother's Day
Give Mom a day off.

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May 3

Back to Happily Ever After
There are few moments more painful than the disclosure of an extramarital affair, an event that provokes stress and anger in both the betrayer and betrayed

Coupons, Deals, and Free Stuff
"I sift through 1,000 deal-touting emails every week. Most are worthless, but a handful offer valuable coupons, promo codes, sales, and freebies – which I collect and organize for you here."

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May 2

Don't Just Sit There
The health consequences of inactivity are swift, pervasive and punishing.

Money Lies That Spouses Tell
There’s roughly a one in three chance your spouse or partner has been deceptive about money

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May 1

Berries May Reduce Cognitive Decline In Seniors
If you're in your 50s or 60s and are concerned about staying mentally sharp,
you might consider adding blueberries and strawberries to your diet.

Track Down Unclaimed Property
You can do this yourself, for free. There's no need for "finders" or "locators"
offering their "expertise" in retrieving your entitlement — for a fee.

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April 30

Understanding Identity Theft
(Recommended by reader) To reduce or minimize the risk of becoming a
victim of identity theft or fraud, follow these basic steps and tips.

For Back Pain, Steroid Shots No More Effective Than Placebo
Because long-term benefits of surgery remain unproven and pain medicines often have
serious side effects, doctors have increasingly turned to steroid injections
to treat lumbosacral radiculopathy, a common cause of back pain.

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April 29

Beware of “Government Imposter” Websites
By pretending to be the part of the U.S. government, these impostor sites trick
consumers into revealing personal information and expose the consumer to identity theft.

A Placebo Might Aometimes be the Best 'Drug'
cCinical trials have found  that even nondrug, dummy treatments like sham acupuncture for
back pain and hot flashes can be just as effective as actual treatments in relieving symptoms.

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April 28

Rank FastFoods
Eating out at a Fast Food restaurant?
You should check the quality of what they serve first.

48% of Chicken in Small Sample Has E. Coli
"Most consumers do not realize that feces are in the chicken products they purchase.
Food labels discuss contamination as if it is simply the presence of bacteria,
but people need to know that it means much more than that.”

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April 27

Consumer Scams FAQ
I think I've been the victim of a scam, what should I do ?

The Ugly Truth About Your Toothbrush
One uncovered toothbrush can harbor more than 100 million bacteria, including E. coli bacteria, which can cause diarrhea, and staphylococci ("staph") bacteria that cause skin infections.

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April 26

The Truth About Omega-3
Getting Omega 3 from diet alone isn't the easiest thing to do -- nor is it the safest.

Grandparents Not Always Careful With Prescription Meds
The relaxed attitude at grandma's house may be one reason, health officials say,
that poisonings from prescription medicine are on the rise.

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April 25

A Surprising Risk for Toddlers on Playground Slides
When a child is sitting in an adult lap, the force of the
adult’s weight behind him ends up breaking his leg.

Understanding Why Gas Prices Are So High (Video)
Would you like to know why you are feeling so much pain at the pump,
and whose fault it is? Watch this video.

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April 24

Will You Soon Be Filling Your Prescriptions at a Dollar Store?
You can now pick up your prescription from a licensed pharmacist at a local dollar store --
if you live in the right place.

New Laws Mean Unused Gift Card Money Won't Be a Gift to Stores
Who should profit when people don't use up their gift card balances?

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April 23
FTC Halts Alleged Scam That Dangled the False Promise of 'Free Gas for Life'
Then Charged Consumers for Unwanted E-Magazine Subscriptions
Ads falsely described "get free gas for life," "how to put solar panels on your roof for free," and "how to make your electricity meter go backwards paying you," with phony testimonial statements such as "I don't pay for electricity" and "I don't have car payments, and I don't pay for fuel."

Easy Bruising: Common as You Age
You don't recall bumping into anything. Lately, however, you seem to be
bruising frequently. Is this cause for concern?

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April 22

How Doctors and Patients Do Harm
"Many Americans, particularly wealthier ones, are “gluttonous” in their consumption
of health care resources and often use them unwisely."

Cigarette Butts the Most Common Piece of Litter
Besides being unsightly and, for at least a few minutes, a fire hazard,
cigarette butts have potentially toxic effects on ecosystems.

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April 21

How Exercise Could Lead to a Better Brain
Exercise appears to build a brain that resists physical shrinkage
and enhance cognitive flexibility.

The Latest Research About Car Repairs
Prices that are too high and the inability to perform repairs properly are the
main reasons that car owners become dissatisfied with auto repair shops.

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April 20

Any Physical Activity Lowers Alzheimer's Risk
People who scored in the bottom 10% of physical activity
were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's.

Understanding Autism
It is estimated that one in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism, making it more
common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.

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April 19

What to do with Old Electronics Devices
But now your basement is cluttered with a bunch of outdated electronics.
If you’re tempted to toss it all in the trash, forget about it!

Does Exercise Make You Overeat?
Exercise may change your desire to eat by altering how
certain parts of your brain respond to the sight of food.

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April 18

May-December Couples: 5 Challenges and Solutions
Where there's a big age gap between the partners, the relationship
can be rewarding -- and also challenging.

Types of Medications That Can Make You Feel Depressed
Doctors often layer prescription drugs, which may trigger new side effects.

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April 17

The Real Reasons Why You Buy
We decide what we want and then gather a few facts to prove to ourselves,
our spouse and our family or friends that we did the right thing.

Everyday Things You're Probably Paying Too Much For
It's easy to overpay for most things we need in our everyday lives.

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April 16

Things Grads Need to Do Before They Job Hunt
It’s imperative that you take a “fine tooth comb” approach to your online activities
past and present–before the job hunt is underway.

Are These Questionable Charges on Your Credit Card?
Customer surveys show that about 90 percent of credit card users fail to
scan their bills carefully each month.

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April 15

Things Grads Need to Do Before They Job Hunt
It’s imperative that you take a “fine tooth comb” approach to your online
activities past and present–before the job hunt is underway.

Are These Questionable Charges on Your Credit Card?
Customer surveys show that about 90 percent of credit card users
fail to scan their bills carefully each month.

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April 15

Are Antibacterial Products Waste of Money?
In order for antibacterial soaps to work properly,
you need to lather for two minutes before rinsing.

The Supermarket Tricks You Need To Avoid To Save While Shopping
Eight things shoppers should be aware of as they walk down the aisles.

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April 14

Don't Rinse the Dishes Before You Load the Dishwasher
Dishwashers are made to do dirty jobs so just scrape the excess food
from the plates and let the machine do the rest of the work.

Arsenic in Our Chicken?
Arsenic has routinely been fed to poultry (and sometimes hogs) because
it reduces infections and makes flesh an appetizing shade of pink.

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April 13

How Can I Stop Junk Mail?

You buy products or services, fill out warranty cards or donate to charity.
Your name, address and perhaps other details go into one organization’s
database and then are sold to other, similar organizations.

Timeshare Resale Scams Take in Millions
Timeshare scammers target people who advertise condos for sale. But they also
work off lists of timeshare owners. So any owner could get a call.

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April 12

Grocery Savings Tips From Store Managers
Besides couponing, there are so many different ways to save money on your grocery bill --
if only you knew the ins and outs of your favorite store's policies and promotions.

Beware Black Mold Hype
It's a sales pitch based on fear, often accompanied by
inferior abilities and practices on the part of the seller.

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April 11

Top Ingredients Used in 'Food Fraud'
Food adulteration is more than just your neighborhood fish counter selling
you farm-raised salmon and telling you it’s line caught.

What if You Can't Sell Your Home?
Knowing how to price your property is the most important step for those eager to sell.

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April 10

The Best and Worst Things to Buy in April
From early home improvement sales to aggressive tablet prices,
here's what's in store this month for the smart shopper.

Most Expensive Vehicles to Fill Up
Consumer Reports has exposed a list of the top 10 most expensive vehicles to fill up.
All prices are based on the average fuel price in the United States.

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April 9

Billions Lost in Tax-Refund Scam
The crooks swipe the Social Security numbers, and use their information to file fake returns.
They enlist mail carriers to intercept the refund checks.

Spend Less Time Doing Yard Work this Year
You might not love the look of dandelions, but they don't actually harm the lawn, and their penetrating tap roots might even improve the soil structure.

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April 8

Appendicitis: Surgery Not Always the Answer
Antibiotics alone are effective for 63% of patients with uncomplicated appendicitis.

Retailers Still Defining Customer Service On Facebook
Of the 20 retailers measured, five failed to respond to a question posted
on their wall within two days. Meanwhile, seven retailers removed the question
from their wall, hiding any record that a consumer had a question.

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April 7

Financial Advisers are Giving Bad Advice
Economists sent hundreds of fake clients to financial advisery firms, banks, and brokerages around the Boston area and found that in many cases those advisers actually steered their clients away from more productive investments to less productive ones that produced more fees.

Prepaid Cards: Loaded with Fees, Weak on Protections
PDF Documerntation from Consumer Reports
Until prepaid card users are guaranteed the same protections that come with traditional
debit and credit cards, consumers who use prepaid cards will be at risk of losing
all their money, face multiple, high, and sometimes confusing fees,

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April 6

A Chocolate a Day to Get Slimmer?
The findings suggest that the health benefits of chocolate may be linked to how many
times in a week chocolate is eaten rather than the total amount consumed in that week.

The Era of Big Box Retail Dominance Is Coming to an End
After 50 years of putting mom and pops out of business, big-box retail is having a mid-life crisis.

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April 5

The True Cost of Lost Cell Phones
Lost phones not only mean a loss of money and banking or personal credential items, which will need replacing, but a risk that private photos and financial and banking details may be pried (or hacked) into.

Spare Tires Not Standard Anymore
When you buy a new car, you don't spend much time thinking about the tires.
Many of us don't spend much time thinking about them after we buy a car either.
So you'll be in for a big surprise when you get that first flat.

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April 4

Where to Find the Best Sasvings Rates
Investors who stow emergency funds in a bank account or certificate of deposit
will have trouble just keeping pace with inflation.

Unwanted "Rachel" Calls May Finally End
These calls from Kathy or Rachel are really debt consolidation companies,
that can charge up to thousands of dollars to help pay off your cards.

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April 3

Is This the End of Long-Term-Care Insurance?
Offering low yields and aging policyholders making more claims, insurers are halting sales, asking state regulators for permission to raise rates for existing policyholders, or both.

Landlords May Require Tenants to Carry Renters Insurance
The landlords' insurance usually covers just the structure itself, not your possessions
or a place to stay if your apartment is damaged.

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April 2

Rercognize the Latest Scams
Crooks have managed to roll two oldies but baddies into one:
the foreign lottery scam and the check overpayment scam.

Diabetes Diet: Create Your Healthy-eating Plan
From the Mayo Clinic. Rather than a restrictive diet, a diabetes diet is a healthy-eating
plan that's rich in nutrients and low in fat and calories

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April 1

Hooking Up a New TV: Which Wire Goes Where?
Looking at the back of a modern television is like looking at a map of
Eastern Europe in the mid-’90s — it’s always in flux.

Checklist of Common Errors When Preparing Your Tax Return
From the IRS: "Before filing your return, review it to make sure it is correct and complete"

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March 31

Top Price-Comparison Apps
aAps may not always be effective and some stores are determined to thwart them.

Angry Customers More Likely to be Lying
People who lie during a service encounter have more
extreme reactions to the outcome than their honest peers.

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March 30

Discounts Anger Consumers Who Miss Out on Big Deals
Consumers who pay full price for goods that are soon marked down substantially develop bad feelings about the company in question— and are more likely to stop buying the company’s products.

Airline Passengers may get a Break on Electronics
It may soon become easier for airlines to allow passengers to use
personal electronic devices such as tablets, e-readers and
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March 29

Do Your Taxes Online, For Free!
There are many online tax preparation services that can accommodate most
taxpayers' circumstances. Some are even free. However, there are a few gotchas
to watch out for when choosing and using an online tax service.

Home Insurance Goes Through the Roof
The higher premiums come at a challenging time for American homeowners, as millions are
behind on their mortgage payments and many owe more on their home than it’s worth

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March 28

High-Tech Scam Skims Cash From Gas Station Card Readers
It’s a sneaky rip-off. Most victims don’t even know they’ve
been robbed until they open their bills.

The Stupid Things You Do with Your Money (and How to Fix Them)
You'll waste it trying too hard to save, spend it on things you don't need,
and simply overpay on regular expenses every month.

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March 27

IRS Audit Red Flags: The Dirty Dozen
The chances of being audited or otherwise hearing from the IRS increase depending upon various factors, including your income level, whether you omitted income, the types of deductions or losses you claimed, the business in which you're engaged and whether you own foreign assets.

The End of Illness: 6 Blood Tests You Should Ask Your Doctor To Do
Have your doctor run these tests, all of which can be obtained through a simple blood draw.

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March 26

How Can I Get Large Companies to Pay Attention to the Little Guy?
Most companies consider customer service a supremely low priority.

The Consumerist List of Company Contacts
Need to complain? Here's how to contact those companies.

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March 25

More Consumer Protection Rules for Travel
Those include giving airline passengers the right to hold an airline reservation for 24 hours without payment and requiring air carriers to notify passengers of flight delays longer than 30 minutes.

Are Edible Wrappers the Next Big Thing?
Marketing and recycling experts agree that there is room for experimentation in the field, which shows great potential in terms of urban waste management.

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March 24

Social Security: The Check Is Not in the Mail
There are still 7 million recipients who get paper checks.  If they don’t sign up for
direct deposit, they may be in for a surprise when the change goes into effect next
February: a prepaid debit card with their benefits on it sent in place of their check.

Fighting for Consumer Rights, Fifty Years After Kennedy's Call
President Kennedy said, you should have the right to buy safe products,
and the right to get the facts you need to make informed choices.

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March 23

New Guidelines For Sunscreen Labeling
“The ingredients are the same. It’s the just labels are going to be uniform.”

Cost of Care: Long Term Care Survey
Use this map to learn a state’s or region's median cost of care by type of care

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March 22

Watch Out For Vacation Scams
Early spring weather in many parts of the country has consumers starting
early on vacation plans. Keep in mind that travel is a lucrative area for scammers.

Hearing Loss in Adults 50 and Older is Undertreated
Patients, clinicians and health care staff often do not
recognize hearing loss, particularly in its early stages.

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March 21

Who Sells Meat with Pink Slime?
“Pink Slime” is meat filler made from slaughterhouse scraps that is treated with ammonia.

Vitamin D Helps from Head to Toe
Even if you have a healthy diet of lean grass-fed meats, organic fruits and vegetables,
and nuts, you should bare some skin in the sun.

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March 20

Car-Buyers Should Beware of 'Spot Delivery'
It's only later that you learn there is a problem with the financing,
or you need a co-signer, or must pay a higher rate.

New iPad is Shaping Up as the Best Tablet Yet
Apple has taken an excellent product and improved it significantly.

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March 19

Top 10 Hotspots for Human Longevity
Despite the fact that the average American lives into his or her late 70s,
the United States ranks 50th on the life expectancy list.

What To Do When You Inherit Money
A new study shows that half of it gets spent, and only half gets saved.

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March 18

Who Uses Coupons Today Will Surprise You
Households with incomes of $100,000 or more are twice as
likely to coupon as those who earn less than $35,000.

Will TSA’s new senior exemption make air travel safer?
Senior citizens will now be allowed to leave their shoes and light outerwear on, and will be allowed an extra pass through the full-body scanners before having to undergo a pat-down.

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March 17

Serving Size Scams that can Make You Fat
Food manufacturers know that you want to eat healthy, so they're doing
everything they can to make their bad-for-you foods look good for you.

White Rice Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk
The more servings of white rice a person eats per day, the greater
their risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

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March 16

Fight Blood Clots—Before They Happen
Blood clots are potentially life threatening, but just how dangerous a clot is depends
on where it forms, where it travels and whether it hampers blood flow.

Tests Find Carcinogen in Regular and Diet Coke and Pepsi
“The coloring is completely cosmetic, adding nothing to the flavor of the product"

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March 15

Strategies to Max Out Social Security Benefits
A growing number of Web-based tools allow you to run dozens of possible claiming strategies --
and can recommend how to maximize benefits.

Ten Commandments for Being a Smart Consumer
Follow these rules and you should have fewer problems with the purchases
you make and greatly reduce your chances of falling victim to a scam.

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March 14

IRS Warns of Scam Involving Fraudulent Refunds on Returns
The scam artists promise refunds to people who normally aren’t required to file for taxes because they have little or no income, which means senior citizens tend to be the targets

The Ins and Outs of Roth 401(k) Plans
While the Roth 401(k) is fairly simple to understand, determining whether one is right for you is often anything but, requiring a careful assessment of both your current and future tax situation.

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March 13

Many Primary-Care Docs Don’t Understand Cancer-Screening
Physiciansrarely consider the possibility of overdiagnosis — identifying cases of cancer
that weren’t ever going to progress — when weighing information.

Rough Seas for the Cruise Industry Drop Prices by 11%
Images of the helpless ships and passengers captivated viewers on TV and spread across the Internet like a brush fire, creating a public relations nightmare for the cruise industry.

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March 12

The Machines That Are Making Coke and Pepsi Quake
If you don't have a home-based water carbonator, let's go over a few of the
reasons that may change sooner than you think.

How Old is My Pet? Correctly Calculate Your Dog or Cat's Age!
Dogs and cats are much more likely to have babies at 1 year old
or even at 10 years old, than any person who is 7 or 70.

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March 11

New Freebies
Companies are giving away stuff — from food to lip gloss — to either get a customer
in the door or to get them to sign up for loyalty cards and/or social media accounts.

Nutrition Labeling for Meat Becomes Mandatory
The new rule affects all ground meat and poultry and 40 of the most popular cuts of meat

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March 10

Finding the Best Diet for You
Many diet plans make promises about easy weight loss, no food restrictions, no
exercise and quick results. The claims can be both tempting and confusing,

The 5 Worst States to Grow Old In
If government benefits were taken out of the equation, elderly Americans
would have significantly less income than they'd need to survive.

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March 9

Scam Warners
We are here to warn, advise, and increase awareness about internet fraud.

Ways to Score Cheaper Gas
Short of buying a bicycle and pedaling to work every morning,
what can you do to keep high gas prices from eating a hole in your budget?

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March 8

FTC Releases Top Complaint Categories for 2011
For the 12th year in a row, identity theft complaints topped the list.

Today’s 5 Best Credit Cards
If you aren’t sure about which type of card you want, but are just looking
for the best deal for your situation, here are the best.

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March 7

How to Handle Real Life Car Emergencies (AAA)
A 30-page PDF booklet

Choosing Healthy Breakfast Cereals
The bright colors and cute characters on the packages may get your attention, but you
need to look beyond the advertising to find out which cereals are best for you

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March 6

The Dos and Dont's of Tax Deductions
The rules of tax deductions change yearly, but you have to learn
them to play the game, and it's worth knowing the rules.

The High Price of Living Alone
In addition to housing costs, solo-livers generally pay
more for utilities, telephone service, and groceries.

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March 5

The Best Place to Put Cash: Extra Mortgage Payments
The first financial priorities for most people should be to build an emergency fund, pay off
credit card and other consumer debt, and max out tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
But once you have those taken care of, paying off the mortgage early is worth considering.

The Latest Way to Save on Airfare
Want to save some money on your next travel plans? A new service called FlightFox is
taking off, and it’s promising to land you satisfying savings.

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March 4

The New Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Will Fight for You
Their mission is to educate the public, enforce laws that protect consumers 
and monitor financial markets for new risks.

Best Olaces to Retire
Most seniors are looking forward to a retirement filled with friends, travel, volunteer opportunities, a wide variety of activities - both physical and intellectual. In other words, a rich life, richly lived.

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March 3

After a Shipwreck, Cruise Lines Try to Win Passengers
Back With Discounts
Right now, some of the best deals are being offered in short, last-minute sales
bursts or through unadvertised rate cuts

Ways to Boost House Value
Anything that opens the space and creates a sense of flow in the house is
generating a response from buyers who can afford to be choosy.

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March 2

For Unhappy Consumers, Social Media are Mighty Swords
"88 percent of consumers said word-of-mouth opinions online
and offline drive their view of a company."

Con Artist Took in $359 Million with Bogus 'Free-Trial' Offers
He used “Free Trial Offers” to get people’s credit or debit card numbers to bill them
for products and services they did not want and did not purchase.

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March 1

Best Free Online Budget Tools
Good budgeting software can help you take charge of your finances –
and free online budget tools are easily available.

Over-the-Air TV Catches Second Wind, Aided by Web
Companies are starting to pitch consumers on complementing online video streamed from
the Web with broadcast-TV signals as a way to save money on cable subscriptions.

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February 29

Not all Coupons you buy Online are Honored by Merchants
Some companies are selling fake or deceptively advertised money-off coupons online.

Feds to Require Rearview Cameras in All Cars
Auto safety regulators will require that automakers put rearview cameras in all cars by 2014.

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February 28

Do Merchants Hate Rewards Credit Cards?
Do retailers pass these costs on to their customers?
Are your rewards cards really rewarding you?

Use Minimal Green To Keep Your Lawn From Yellowing
Your first instinct is to go crazy with watering and high-cost fertilizers,
but those methods don't always keep lawns looking pristine.

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February 27

How Companies Learn Your Secrets
Once consumers’ shopping habits are ingrained, it’s incredibly difficult to change them.

Credit Report Error? How to Fix It
Both the credit reporting company and the information provider (typically the lender or collections agency) are responsible for investigating and/or correcting inaccurate or incomplete information.

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February 26

Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012
The IRS issued its annual “Dirty Dozen” ranking of tax scams,
reminding taxpayers to use caution during tax season.

Your Child Is Sick. You Need to Work. What Now?
Five ways to get prepared before the common cold comes calling.

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February 25

Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
Credit cards remain a highly profitable line of business, and there
are still plenty of cards being offered with no annual fee.

U.S. Seniors Missing out on $20 Billion of Benefits
Eligible seniors living alone could benefit from an annual $1,428 in food assistance

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February 24

Robo-Calls Are Now a Thimg of the Past
Too many telemarketers, aided by autodialers and prerecorded messages,
have continued to call consumers who don’t want to hear from them.

Travel May Get More Taxing
As part of a plan to help balance the federal government’s budgets, travelers
may soon have to fork over an extra $2.50 each way on airfare.

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February 23

Interval Training Can Improve Health
This routine involved one minute of strenuous effort, followed by one minute of
easy recovery, repeated 10 times, for a total of 20 minutes.

JDPower 2012 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study
The study measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original
owners of three-year-old (2009 model-year) vehicles.

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February 22

The Secret to a Long and Happy Life
Learning how to relax and spend time with loved ones is essential to one’s happiness later in life.

Tempting Refund Anticipation Loans Aren't a Good Deal
The fees represent interest you're paying on a very-short-term loan
from a bank in partnership with the tax-prep company.

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February 21

Spring Allergies Strike Early This Year
Biologists say an early pollen season may also mean a long one

Used Car Buyers Flooded With Warranty Offers
While there are legitimate automotive service contracts, some are expensive and hardly ever pay.

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February 20

How a Regularly Scheduled Phone Call and a Little Research Can Reduce Your Monthly Bills Twice a Year
You'll be wasting your time if you ask for discounts too frequently
and you may miss an opportunity if you're not informed.

You Can Qualify For Elite Status At Hotels Without Staying There A Million Nights First
Staying only four times a year could bring you within
reach of many loyalty programs.

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