Consumer Savvy Tips http://www.consumersavvytips.org/ Find cutting-edge consumer advice and tips to help you save money. en Copyright 2013 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:25:35 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=5.11 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Simple, Non-Obvious Ways to Conserve Energy To conserve energy is to conserve money, and most savvy consumers are already aware of the conventional ways to do that. But some savings aren't as obvious as turning the thermostat up in the winter or down in the summer, or tightening up your weather-stripping.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/simple_non-obvious_ways_to_conserve_energy.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/simple_non-obvious_ways_to_conserve_energy.html Home Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:25:35 -0600 How to Avoid Telemarketing Scams Telemarketing scams represent an interesting species of fraud. The technology isn't exactly new (telephony's been in wide use for a century now), and yet people keep falling for these schemes. Why?

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/how_to_avoid_telemarketing_scams.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/how_to_avoid_telemarketing_scams.html Finance Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:32:22 -0600 Good Reasons to Buy Things With a Credit Card Nowadays, it's often easier to pay for a purchase with a debit or credit card than with cash. In fact, some of us rarely even keep cash on hand, because there are very few cases when it's absolutely necessary.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/good_reasons_to_buy_things_with_a_credit_card.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/good_reasons_to_buy_things_with_a_credit_card.html Credit Cards Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:28:11 -0600 Plastic Canvas: A Creative But Inexpensive Hobby With the costs of hobbies like movie-going, gourmet cooking, and tinkering with your car spiraling out of control, something as simple as plastic canvas artwork can start looking very attractive to the savvy consumer. It's a creative way to keep your hands busy, and doesn't cost a bundle.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/plastic_canvas_a_creative_but_inexpensive_hobby.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/plastic_canvas_a_creative_but_inexpensive_hobby.html Home Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:24:35 -0600 Before You Buy a Used Car, Check for Odometer Fraud Any car, even a used one, is a huge investment -- so you definitely don't want to fall for something as avoidable as odometer fraud. While most cars made in the last few years use electronic odometers that are harder to jigger, fraud is still an issue for cars with mechanical odometers.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/before_you_buy_a_used_car_check_for_odometer_fraud.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/before_you_buy_a_used_car_check_for_odometer_fraud.html Auto Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:21:35 -0600 Are You Claiming Your Earned Income Tax Credit? Next time tax season rolls around, don't forget about the Earned Income Tax Credit, or you may deprive yourself of substantial taxes savings -- to the tune of as much as $6,000. That may very well mean the difference between writing a check to the IRS, or receiving a big refund.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/are_you_claiming_your_earned_income_tax_credit.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/are_you_claiming_your_earned_income_tax_credit.html Finance Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:15:26 -0600 Tooth Whitening: Is It Worth the Cost? In recent years, your dentist may have started pitching tooth whitening procedures (often using a nifty laser device) as a means of brightening your smile. And of course, there are all those handy over-the-counter "brightening strips" and systems you can buy at the corner drugstore.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/tooth_whitening_is_it_worth_the_cost.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/tooth_whitening_is_it_worth_the_cost.html Health Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:22:50 -0600 Is Satellite Internet a Good Deal for You? Satellite Internet service is one of those technologies that was little more than a gleam in some engineer's eye 15 years ago. We've had satellite TV for a while now; you just point a parabolic receiver at the right Earth-orbiting satellite and you can pull in a signal. Easy-peasy.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/is_satellite_internet_a_good_deal_for_you.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/is_satellite_internet_a_good_deal_for_you.html Entertainment Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:30:33 -0600 Printable Grocery Coupons: Worth the Effort? Printable grocery coupons have been offered on the Internet for almost two decades now -- basically for as long as the 'Net's been a widespread and popular phenomenon. Unfortunately, they've always been an iffy proposition for consumers, because many retailers won't take them.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/printable_grocery_coupons_worth_the_effort.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/printable_grocery_coupons_worth_the_effort.html Shopping Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:26:23 -0600 How to Make a Perfectly Adequate Pet Bed If you've priced a pet bed lately, then you've probably gone away with sticker shock. We all love our fur-kids, but the pet stores seem to think we'll pay just about any price for the cachet of a well-known brand name on Fluffy's pillow.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/how_to_make_a_perfectly_adequate_pet_bed.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/how_to_make_a_perfectly_adequate_pet_bed.html Pets Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:22:59 -0600 Keep Your Eyes Open for Medicare Fraud Medicare fraud is one of those activities that make you shake your head in disgust, wondering how some people can sink so low just to make an illicit buck. What's next, stealing from orphans?

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/keep_your_eyes_open_for_medicare_fraud.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/keep_your_eyes_open_for_medicare_fraud.html Finance Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:16:55 -0600 Butterfly Watching: Cheap Fun in the Sun Just about everyone who ever goes outdoors has done their share of butterfly watching. Maybe you like to sit on your porch on a spring evening, watching as they flutter their way from flower to flower; or you may have fond memories of pretending to fly with them as a child. Ah, to be a butterfly....

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/butterfly_watching_cheap_fun_in_the_sun.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/butterfly_watching_cheap_fun_in_the_sun.html Family Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:12:29 -0600 Are Bank Checks Long For This Earth? Before you order that next box of bank checks (whether from your financial institution or from an independent printer), stop and ask yourself: "Do I really need checks anymore?"

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/are_bank_checks_long_for_this_earth.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/are_bank_checks_long_for_this_earth.html Finance Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:10:53 -0600 How to Revoke a Power of Attorney A while back, we took a look at the process of setting up a power of attorney -- a durable legal instrument to allow someone else to handle your personal affairs and finances when you're incapacitated or away from home. Well, it's just as important to know how to revoke a POA when necessary.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/how_to_revoke_a_power_of_attorney.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/how_to_revoke_a_power_of_attorney.html Finance Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:24:15 -0600 How to Shop an Estate Sale If you're a savvy consumer looking for excellent deals on everything from dinnerware to fishing trophies, it's hard to do better than an estate sale.

If you've never been to one, imagine the best garage sale you've ever attended, with all manner of things for sale -- not just piles of clothes, baby toys, and all the other junk people want to get rid of. Then add the best elements of a public auction and flea market, mix thoroughly, and serve.

]]> http://www.consumersavvytips.org/how_to_shop_an_estate_sale.html http://www.consumersavvytips.org/how_to_shop_an_estate_sale.html Shopping Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:21:15 -0600