Rita Robison

Spring is my favorite time of year, and on May Day, when I was a kid, we used to make paper baskets, put flowers in them, and hang them on door knobs. Then we’d ring the bell and run away. One time, I took part in a maypole dance. It was magical. Many countries around the world celebrate International Labor Day on May 1. The United States doesn’t officially recognize International Labor Day although it originated here when workers fought for a shorter work day. Other countries celebrate Labor Day on different dates. In the U.S. and Canada, Labor Day is the first Monday in September. U.S.... Continue Reading

When I worked at The Anchorage Times during the 1980s, I was fortunate to get my dream job writing a consumer action column. However, along with the job as columnist, I also had to be the religion editor. It meant that every week, I had to write a big feature article on religion along with compiling the Church Circuit, a listing of religious events in the anchorage area for that week. In 1986, I interviewed Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of ‘When Bad Things Happen to Good People,’ about his new book “When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough.” Kushner was coming to Anchorage to take... Continue Reading

Photo: Raysonho My newsletter this week has a lot of helpful information so I’m posting a copy here. You have until May 8 to use Bed Bath & Beyond gift cards and rewards and until May 4 to file a claim for an IKEA settlement. You’ll also find tips on how to save money on gas and a list of some store brands that are better than name brands. I also included in my newsletter what I posted about Thursday: You have to ask at Office Depot to get the online price if it’s cheaper. Although I only saved $3, imagine the millions that Office Depot makes every day by having this price difference... Continue Reading

When I was over by Fred Meyer, I stopped to see if the Canon ink I use was cheaper than what I’ve been paying at Office Depot. I looked at Office Depot’s website to compare its price. Fred Meyer wasn’t cheaper. So, when I went over to Office Depot, I was surprised to see that the store price was more than the online price by $3. I asked one of the sales associates about it and he said to ask for the online price at checkout. I did. And I learned that you have to ask for the cheaper online price. It won’t be given to you automatically. Just another way corporations gouge consumers every... Continue Reading

Things will be looking better for sales in May with Mother’s Day and Memorial coming up. Stores will be stocking up on summer clothing, patio furniture, and outdoor cooking items, so spring inventories will start going on sale in May. Look for deals on appliances and mattresses for Memorial Day sales and for Mother’s Day compare prices for reduced prices on flowers and clothing. Here are some suggestions from Offers.com on what deals to look for in May. Appliances and refrigerators Appliance sales abound in May, especially on refrigerators. Stores reduce their prices in May on the previous... Continue Reading

It’s helpful for consumers to take a look at complaints that are received by agencies and organization to know what to watch out for in their financial lives. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau monitors consumer complaints to determine risks in consumer financial markets and to prioritize agency action. In 2022, the CFPB found: During 2022, the CFPB received about 1,287,000 consumer complaints and sent more than 820,000 complaints to about 3,200 companies for review and response. Complaints about credit or consumer reporting increased, accounting for more than 75 percent of all consumer... Continue Reading

Luxor Workspaces is recalling about 84,700 Luxor A/V carts in the United States and about 1,650 in Canada. The carts can be unstable when loaded with heavy objects, such as cathode-ray tube televisions. They pose a tip-over hazard to children, which can result in serious injury or death. Between 2006 and 2016, three children died and one child was seriously injured when the A/V carts carrying a CRT TV tipped over and landed on them. Consumers, schools, daycare centers, places of worship, and others that use these carts where children may be present need to be aware of the danger posed by the... Continue Reading

It’s been the second coldest April in history here in the Seattle area. And, then, there’s the rain, rain, rain. Even hail at times. Since I’m a photojournalist, I like to take photos of our state Capitol when the cherry blossoms are blooming. Many years it’s tricky to get a blue sky with the iconic building. This year, I tried three times to get some good photographs. I sell greeting cards with my photos at the Washington State Legislative Gift Center, so I’m always trying to get new, beautiful photos. One time I went about 6 p.m. and the light was fading with too many shadows. The... Continue Reading

Earth Day is a good reminder of what to do every day and throughout the year for the health of the planet. I spend a lot of time on it. I know many people do, too. The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Invest in Our Planet. What Americans are doing for planet health Three-quarters of Americans say that they’re particularly concerned with helping the environment as they go about their daily lives, while 24 percent say they aren’t particularly concerned, according to a Pew Research Center survey. However, only one-in-five say they try to live in ways that help the environment “all the... Continue Reading

Photo: Hudconja A settlement shows that another huge, well-known corporation has engaged in deceptive practices in how it treats its customers. Prudential Financial denied more than 200 life insurance claims although the company collected life insurance premiums from participants for extended periods, the U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday. Prudential offered group life insurance policies to businesses that allowed plan participants to opt for payroll deductions to pay for additional, supplemental coverage. For this type of insurance, the insured is required to fill out a form indicating... Continue Reading