Christmas is one of the most popular holidays in the United States, and it can be one of the most expensive. Decorations, food, cards, gifts, travel, and more can add up fast. Americans are expected to spend a record amount for the holidays in 2022, between $943 billion and $960 billion, according to a survey […]
It’s the holiday season and Christmas Day will be here soon. For more than a year now, I’ve been writing a newsletter offering readers 10 money tips every week. The response has been very positive. I scour a variety of websites to look for the latest information to help consumers make wise financial decisions. I […]
On a recent trip, I learned a valuable lesson. Most airlines won’t reimburse you for electronics if they’re in a checked bag that gets lost. How did I find that out? When I arrived at the Southwest ticket counter at SeaTac Airport, I had three items – my purse, a bag of Christmas presents, and […]
Wells Fargo is at it again. It shows why consumers should be skeptical about trusting big banks. The repeat offender has agreed to a settlement that requires it to return more than $2 billion to consumers and pay a $1.7 billion civil penalty for legal violations across several of its largest product lines, the Consumer […]
Just because you’re shopping late for the holidays doesn’t mean you should make a lot of costly mistakes. Take a deep breath, make a list, and proceed with confidence. My top tips include: Ask for a gift receipt. In addition, keep your receipts also in case the gift receipt gets lost. Ask what the deadline […]
On Tuesday, my new Apple desktop computer was delivered. I signed up for Best Buy’s Totaltech program, paying $200, because a tech would come to my house and install the computer. My iMac desktop is heavy and I didn’t want to lug it to Best Buy and also have to get a new heavy computer […]
Did you know alcohol is a carcinogen? Only half of Americans are aware of it. For years, the alcohol beverage industry has been successful in keeping the government from requiring the type of labeling on alcohol that’s found on packaged food. However, three consumer organizations – the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer […]
At holiday dinners, we usually put the stuffing in the turkey and cook the two together. However, at a recent holiday event, the topic came up about what to do if you cook the stuffing separately. In the back of my mind, I seemed to remember that even if you don’t put the stuffing in […]
Are you aware of the problems with infant flotation rings? A drowning and serious injury have occurred with infant flotation rings sold by Otteroo Corp. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is recommending consumers should immediately stop using the LUMI and MINI infant flotation rings, as well as the discontinued Otteroo models: the Version 1, […]
As a minimalist, I don’t do much shopping. Before the pandemic, I bought most of my clothes from the sales racks at Macy’s. Its clothes seem to be O.K. for older women. I did go shopping several times with my daughter Lisa, who lives in Madrid, and we shopped at H&M, Zara, and other stores. […]
