Find the Best Deals and Boost Your Consumer Smarts

Welcome to ConsumerSavvyTips.org! Whether you just want to know where to find the best deals... or you're looking for information on how to avoid scams and keep your personal information safe... or you want to find the best credit card for you, you've come to the right place. We've got it all.

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Jessica Hunter and people say I'm a real "deal guru," so I'll be sharing all of my savings secrets with you. If you want to find a deal, I know where to find it. If you want to know if a savings coupon exists, I know where to look. I'm literally your one-stop, go-to person for all of your savings advice.

You'll also meet Max Anderson here. He's really into keeping you guys updated on safe shopping practices and wants to make sure you don't get taken advantage of -- on or off the web.

Lydia Johnson rounds out the team with her success and motivational tips. She wants to make sure all of our friends enjoy as much success as possible and she's determined to motivate you to get you there.

So take a look around and share your thoughts and ideas with us. We're glad you came.

Given the huge economy we enjoy here in the U.S. (and the watchdog organizations that keep an eye on it), it's inevitable that there would be fairly frequent product recalls. They've affected us all at some time or another, generally because something didn't go right with a common product.

Continue reading "Keep An Eye Out for Product Recalls" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

Like so many things that we examine in these hallowed pages, newspaper subscriptions aren't terribly expensive. With very few exceptions, you may spend $90-125 per year to enjoy home delivery via paperboy, and generally less than $200 for mail delivery.

This is generally true even of small town newspapers. In fact, big city papers can cost less, given economies of scale. Of course, if you're receiving the New York Times in Cleveland or L.A., you can expect to pay more. But the price probably won't be too bad.

Continue reading "Newspaper Subscriptions: Are They Still Worth the Cost?" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

It's hard to argue that peat or plastic seedling pots (those little pots used to germinate seedlings until they're big enough to plant) are exactly expensive...but you know, even a few dollars saved can go to that vacation fund and bring a dream that much closer to reality.

So instead of spending that money, why not exercise some ingenuity, and engineer some pots out of objects you'd otherwise recycle or throw away? In this article, we'll offer two suggestions that are biodegradable and mostly organic.

Continue reading "Recycled Seedling Pots" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

Debt collection is a fact of life in any credit-based consumer economy, and there's no doubt that it's absolutely necessary. It's so necessary, in fact, that some companies make it their primary business. However, some debt collectors can be too vigorous in their dunning.

Since 1978, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) has regulated what bill collectors can and can't do in attempts to elicit payment. In Part I of this article, we introduced the FDCPA, and listed prohibited actions. This time, let's look at the required actions...and the penalties for breaking the law.

Continue reading "Your Rights Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Part II " »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

Even if you never expect to default on a bill, it's still a good idea for you to know your debt collection rights, just in case. Admittedly, it's not a pleasant subject to contemplate, but just about all of us have had to deal with dunning from bill collectors at one time or another.

You may have had a bad time of it, too; some bill collectors can be quite nasty. But the thing is, they're not supposed to be -- and that's been the law of the land for decades. So in this two-part article, we'll take a look at your debt collection rights under Federal law.

Continue reading "Your Rights Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Part I " »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

When most of us sign contracts for goods or services, our cancellation rights never even cross our minds -- if, in fact, we're aware of them at all. But the truth is, cancellation is one of your basic consumer rights, so as a savvy consumer it's a good idea to know when and how to take advantage of it.

So let's take a look at your rights of cancellation under American law.

Continue reading "Know Your Cancellation Rights" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

If you're looking for ways to save money in the kitchen, here's a good one: try steaming food, rather than boiling, frying, roasting, or baking it. Steaming tends to be less expensive than most cooking methods.

Plus, it's ideal for delicate foods (including seafood and fragile vegetables) that cook quickly and might fall apart if you prepare them using other methods. Steaming cooks food exclusively by bathing it in moist heat; there's no agitation involved.

Continue reading "Steaming Food Can Save You Money" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

By making the necessary preparations against a potential disaster, you can often avoid spending boatloads of money in the aftermath. So in this article, we'll take a quick at things you should do to secure your property, and personal safety, against expected storm damage.

Continue reading "Storm Preparation 101" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

For many people, the concept of "Christmas savings" means putting money aside in a special bank account so you can buy gifts when the holidays roll around. That's a good idea, but we've got a few ways you can save money on the fly during Yuletide.

Continue reading "Super, Simple Christmas Savings" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink

We humans have been swapping things from time immemorial, ever since Ugg the caveman traded a shiny rock to his pal Bob for a chunk of meat.

And really, when you get right down to it, the swap is the basis of most economic systems, no matter how we may dress it up. Think about it: when you work at your job, don't you swap your time and energy for a paycheck?

Continue reading "Swapping Your Way to Savings" »

Posted by Jessica Hunter | Permalink