Click For
Hybrid Cars
Where to find emergency cash
From Consumer Reports Money Adviser, the following report contains expert consumer advice and recommendations on where to find emergency cash without paying too much in penalties, bank fees, and interest. Also included are tips on which assets to tap first, borrowing against life insurance, protecting your retirement, tax saving tips, and selling personal belongings.
From Consumer Reports Money Adviser, the following report contains expert consumer advice and recommendations on where to find emergency cash without paying too much in penalties, bank fees, and interest. Also included are tips on which assets to tap first, borrowing against life insurance, protecting your retirement, tax saving tips, and selling personal belongings.
Where to find emergency cash, raising cash by selling your stuff
From Consumer Reports Money Adviser, the following report contains expert consumer advice and recommendations on where to find emergency cash without paying too much in penalties, bank fees, and interest. Also included are tips on which assets to tap first, borrowing against life insurance, protecting your retirement, tax saving tips, and selling personal belongings.
From Consumer Reports Money Adviser, the following report contains expert consumer advice and recommendations on where to find emergency cash without paying too much in penalties, bank fees, and interest. Also included are tips on which assets to tap first, borrowing against life insurance, protecting your retirement, tax saving tips, and selling personal belongings.
Popularity of pellet stoves drives delivery-system innovation
Sales of pellet stoves continue to sizzle. Through the first six months of 2008, shipments were up 135 percent over 2007, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. As a result, in New England, where a majority of this country's estimated 800,000 operating pellet stoves have been sold, units are reportedly on back order into 2009. (To learn more about this equipment, read our buyer's guide to pellet- and wood-burning stoves.) The pellets used in pellet stoves are often made from sawdust recovered from lumber mills, furniture factories, and flooring manufacturers. Pellets are also made from corn, wheat, sunflower seeds, and other biomass ingredients. Whatever their raw material, pellets have traditionally been sold at home centers, supermarkets, and other retailers in 40- to 50-pound packages. When you consider that an average stove might burn through a couple pounds of pellets every hour during the winter months, loading all those bags into your car and unloading them at home can be a lot of work. That's why more suppliers have started delivering pellets by the pallet directly to consumers. This shift cuts out the middleman and a lot of the lifting, though you still have to empty the pellets into your stove, which creates plastic debris and a good deal of dust. Jon Strimling, founder of PelletSales.com in Goffstown, New Hampshire, has recognized the inefficiency of that system. "You wouldn't pour a bucket of oil into your furnace each time you wanted to turn it on," he says. "So why should you have to do it with pellets?" PelletSales.com has developed a bulk-delivery system in which pellets are shunted from a truck to a large hopper on your property, say in the garage or garden shed. Once the necessary transfer equipment is installed between the stove and hopper, you can in theory fill your stove with the flick a switch. Note that you'll still need to empty the ash by hand every week or so, according to the Pellet Fuels Institute. Premium pellets produce about 1 percent of their weight as ash; standard pellets, about 2 to 4 percent ash. Besides eliminating the pellet-hauling hassle, the delivery system could also generate savings, since 10 to 15 percent of the cost of pellets goes to packaging, according to Strimling. That should help offset the initial cost of the storage bin and transfer equipment, which can run $1,000 to $5,000. No small chunk of change, sure, especially for a piece of equipment that's essentially a large space heater. If you want a pellet stove but don't have the means or the desire to deal with a hundred 40-pound bags each year, Strimling's bulk-delivery program might be the answer. The program is still at the pilot stage, but Strimling hopes to have it up and running in time for the 2009-2010 heating season.—Daniel DiClerico Essential information: As part of some new federal legislation that covers a wide range of energy incentives, you are entitled to a $300 tax deduction if you purchase a pellet stove after January 1, 2009.
Sales of pellet stoves continue to sizzle. Through the first six months of 2008, shipments were up 135 percent over 2007, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. As a result, in New England, where a majority of this country's estimated 800,000 operating pellet stoves have been sold, units are reportedly on back order into 2009. (To learn more about this equipment, read our buyer's guide to pellet- and wood-burning stoves.) The pellets used in pellet stoves are often made from sawdust recovered from lumber mills, furniture factories, and flooring manufacturers. Pellets are also made from corn, wheat, sunflower seeds, and other biomass ingredients. Whatever their raw material, pellets have traditionally been sold at home centers, supermarkets, and other retailers in 40- to 50-pound packages. When you consider that an average stove might burn through a couple pounds of pellets every hour during the winter months, loading all those bags into your car and unloading them at home can be a lot of work. That's why more suppliers have started delivering pellets by the pallet directly to consumers. This shift cuts out the middleman and a lot of the lifting, though you still have to empty the pellets into your stove, which creates plastic debris and a good deal of dust. Jon Strimling, founder of PelletSales.com in Goffstown, New Hampshire, has recognized the inefficiency of that system. "You wouldn't pour a bucket of oil into your furnace each time you wanted to turn it on," he says. "So why should you have to do it with pellets?" PelletSales.com has developed a bulk-delivery system in which pellets are shunted from a truck to a large hopper on your property, say in the garage or garden shed. Once the necessary transfer equipment is installed between the stove and hopper, you can in theory fill your stove with the flick a switch. Note that you'll still need to empty the ash by hand every week or so, according to the Pellet Fuels Institute. Premium pellets produce about 1 percent of their weight as ash; standard pellets, about 2 to 4 percent ash. Besides eliminating the pellet-hauling hassle, the delivery system could also generate savings, since 10 to 15 percent of the cost of pellets goes to packaging, according to Strimling. That should help offset the initial cost of the storage bin and transfer equipment, which can run $1,000 to $5,000. No small chunk of change, sure, especially for a piece of equipment that's essentially a large space heater. If you want a pellet stove but don't have the means or the desire to deal with a hundred 40-pound bags each year, Strimling's bulk-delivery program might be the answer. The program is still at the pilot stage, but Strimling hopes to have it up and running in time for the 2009-2010 heating season.—Daniel DiClerico Essential information: As part of some new federal legislation that covers a wide range of energy incentives, you are entitled to a $300 tax deduction if you purchase a pellet stove after January 1, 2009.
Average gas prices—November 17, 2008
Gasoline and diesel prices continue to drop from the week before. The national gasoline average is now more than a dollar cents below the price this time last year—$1.03. Diesel fuel is now 60.1 cents below this time last year. National retail fuel price averages Price Change from last week Regular gasoline/gallon $2.07 ↓ .15 Diesel fuel/gallon $2.81 ↓ .14 Regional regular gasoline prices Price Change from last week East Coast $2.11 ↓ .16 -New England $2.12 ↓ .17 -Central Atlantic $2.21 ↓ .18 -Lower Atlantic $2.04 ↓ .14 Midwest $1.93 ↓ .13 Gulf Coast $1.96 ↓ .14 Rocky Mountain $2.03 ↓ .22 West Coast $2.36 ↓ .18 -California $2.37 ↓ .18 Source: Energy Information Administration, 11/17/08. Figures rounded to the nearest cent. For more information on saving fuel see our reports on how to get the best gas mileage and where to find the cheapest gas.
Gasoline and diesel prices continue to drop from the week before. The national gasoline average is now more than a dollar cents below the price this time last year—$1.03. Diesel fuel is now 60.1 cents below this time last year. National retail fuel price averages Price Change from last week Regular gasoline/gallon $2.07 ↓ .15 Diesel fuel/gallon $2.81 ↓ .14 Regional regular gasoline prices Price Change from last week East Coast $2.11 ↓ .16 -New England $2.12 ↓ .17 -Central Atlantic $2.21 ↓ .18 -Lower Atlantic $2.04 ↓ .14 Midwest $1.93 ↓ .13 Gulf Coast $1.96 ↓ .14 Rocky Mountain $2.03 ↓ .22 West Coast $2.36 ↓ .18 -California $2.37 ↓ .18 Source: Energy Information Administration, 11/17/08. Figures rounded to the nearest cent. For more information on saving fuel see our reports on how to get the best gas mileage and where to find the cheapest gas.
The skinny on netbooks
Looking for a lightweight laptop that doesn't cost a bundle? If all you need is to e-mail, surf the Web, and do a little word processing, a netbook might be a good choice. A netbook is a downsized laptop with a 10-inch or smaller screen that weighs 2 to 3 pounds and costs $300 to $400, though with holiday season bundling deals and sales, you may be able to find one for even less. Some come from computer brands that are household names, like Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, while others are from brands you may not have heard of. Netbooks are hardly powerhouse computers. Their processors can be slow, because they're designed to minimize power consumption. The operating system is a lower-cost alternative, too, either Windows XP or a version of Linux. You'll probably get just 1GB of memory at most, a small hard drive of 80- or 160GB (or even less if you opt for a solid-state drive), and no CD or DVD drive. And while a netbook might help avoid the backache you might get from lugging a heavier laptop around, it could still take a toll on your hands. The keyboards on many are small and uncomfortable. Left- and right-click keys are sometimes inconveniently placed on the side of the trackpad instead of at the bottom, and the trackpads themselves can be small. The only way to install new software is by using an external CD drive. Still, their price and convenience make netbooks worth considering for limited uses, and they have more features than you might initially expect. Many have bright LED-backlit displays, a webcam and microphone, a headphone jack, and a couple of USB ports. And, of course, they've got Ethernet and WiFi capabilities. We've just finished trying out six netbooks in our labs, including some of the latest models from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI. We'll be posting our comparison of those models in this blog in the next couple of days. To see how they stack up, be sure to check back. —Donna Tapellini
Looking for a lightweight laptop that doesn't cost a bundle? If all you need is to e-mail, surf the Web, and do a little word processing, a netbook might be a good choice. A netbook is a downsized laptop with a 10-inch or smaller screen that weighs 2 to 3 pounds and costs $300 to $400, though with holiday season bundling deals and sales, you may be able to find one for even less. Some come from computer brands that are household names, like Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, while others are from brands you may not have heard of. Netbooks are hardly powerhouse computers. Their processors can be slow, because they're designed to minimize power consumption. The operating system is a lower-cost alternative, too, either Windows XP or a version of Linux. You'll probably get just 1GB of memory at most, a small hard drive of 80- or 160GB (or even less if you opt for a solid-state drive), and no CD or DVD drive. And while a netbook might help avoid the backache you might get from lugging a heavier laptop around, it could still take a toll on your hands. The keyboards on many are small and uncomfortable. Left- and right-click keys are sometimes inconveniently placed on the side of the trackpad instead of at the bottom, and the trackpads themselves can be small. The only way to install new software is by using an external CD drive. Still, their price and convenience make netbooks worth considering for limited uses, and they have more features than you might initially expect. Many have bright LED-backlit displays, a webcam and microphone, a headphone jack, and a couple of USB ports. And, of course, they've got Ethernet and WiFi capabilities. We've just finished trying out six netbooks in our labs, including some of the latest models from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI. We'll be posting our comparison of those models in this blog in the next couple of days. To see how they stack up, be sure to check back. —Donna Tapellini
What to save from election ‘08
The confetti is in the vacuum cleaner bag, the champagne bottle in the recycling bin, and the yard signs await their fate in the garage. Now that the Presidential election is behind us, you may be wondering what mementos from...
The confetti is in the vacuum cleaner bag, the champagne bottle in the recycling bin, and the yard signs await their fate in the garage. Now that the Presidential election is behind us, you may be wondering what mementos from...
Behold, the newest touch-screen T-Mobile phone
T-Mobile built its reputation as a no-frills wireless service specializing in simple cellular phones to run on its relatively slow data network. Text messaging was offered, but you could forget about music downloads, GPS navigation, or services other carriers provided on their faster, 3G networks. Now the times, and T-Mobile, are changing. The carrier now has a 3G network, and is launching phones that take advantage of its capabilities. One of the first such offerings, the $180 G1, a.k.a Google phone, has now been joined by the $150 Samsung Behold, a sharp-looking touch-screen model with a decent 1.6-in. x 2.6-in. display. (Click on the image at right for a closer look.) The display has vibration feedback for a more realistic button-pushing experience. The virtual QWERTY keyboard, which you can peck with your finger or the included stylus, seemed to function rather well when I used it at a recent press event. The phone itself, which measures 4.1 in. x 2.1 in. x 0.5 in, fits comfortably in the hand. Color choices include rose or espresso. While the Behold lacks the G1's Wi-Fi connectivity, document-handling capabilities, and other advanced features, it does offer GPS navigation with audible, turn-by-turn directions. That's something very few T-Mobile phones, including the G1, can yet do. It also comes with a 5-megapixel digital camera, among the highest resolutions we've seen on a cell phone. We haven't yet tested the phone, so we can't comment on its photo quality. But the photos I saw at the demonstration appeared sharp and bright on screen. The phone's photo album arranges photo previews in filmstrip fashion, which looks rather nifty. You can customize the Behold for easier access to favorite functions. A tool called TouchWiz allows users to drag and drop "widgets" onto the phone's main screen that are linked to the applications and features they use the most. Other features include a full Web browser, and support for Bluetooth stereo and data and microSD cards of up to 16 gigabytes (the phone comes with 1-gigabyte card). Bottom line: Samsung's Behold appears to cram a lot of promising features into an attractive case. Our upcoming lab tests will determine if it has the performance to match. —Mike Gikas
T-Mobile built its reputation as a no-frills wireless service specializing in simple cellular phones to run on its relatively slow data network. Text messaging was offered, but you could forget about music downloads, GPS navigation, or services other carriers provided on their faster, 3G networks. Now the times, and T-Mobile, are changing. The carrier now has a 3G network, and is launching phones that take advantage of its capabilities. One of the first such offerings, the $180 G1, a.k.a Google phone, has now been joined by the $150 Samsung Behold, a sharp-looking touch-screen model with a decent 1.6-in. x 2.6-in. display. (Click on the image at right for a closer look.) The display has vibration feedback for a more realistic button-pushing experience. The virtual QWERTY keyboard, which you can peck with your finger or the included stylus, seemed to function rather well when I used it at a recent press event. The phone itself, which measures 4.1 in. x 2.1 in. x 0.5 in, fits comfortably in the hand. Color choices include rose or espresso. While the Behold lacks the G1's Wi-Fi connectivity, document-handling capabilities, and other advanced features, it does offer GPS navigation with audible, turn-by-turn directions. That's something very few T-Mobile phones, including the G1, can yet do. It also comes with a 5-megapixel digital camera, among the highest resolutions we've seen on a cell phone. We haven't yet tested the phone, so we can't comment on its photo quality. But the photos I saw at the demonstration appeared sharp and bright on screen. The phone's photo album arranges photo previews in filmstrip fashion, which looks rather nifty. You can customize the Behold for easier access to favorite functions. A tool called TouchWiz allows users to drag and drop "widgets" onto the phone's main screen that are linked to the applications and features they use the most. Other features include a full Web browser, and support for Bluetooth stereo and data and microSD cards of up to 16 gigabytes (the phone comes with 1-gigabyte card). Bottom line: Samsung's Behold appears to cram a lot of promising features into an attractive case. Our upcoming lab tests will determine if it has the performance to match. —Mike Gikas
Tip of the day: Healthy eating on the cheap
Preparing healthy meals for your family on a tight budget is no easy task. One practical way to save is to try to avoid packaged stuff and start from scratch. Learn to cook from scratch with unprocessed meats, produce, and...
Preparing healthy meals for your family on a tight budget is no easy task. One practical way to save is to try to avoid packaged stuff and start from scratch. Learn to cook from scratch with unprocessed meats, produce, and...
2008 SEMA – Personal Picks
As we wind down our coverage of the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show car and component extravaganza in Las Vegas, CR’s attendees have been reflecting on the vehicles that made the greatest impression. It truly takes something special to stand out among the hundreds upon hundreds of vehicles on display. After all, these show vehicles have been specially prepared for this mega event, often built exclusively for showcasing the latest parts, trends, and building techniques. But, it isn’t always the fanciest car that fuels fantasies, nostalgia, or water-cooler discussions. Between writing more than 20 blog posts about this year’s show, a few team members shared their personal picks. A couple others, overwhelmed by the selection, simply couldn’t decide. John Galeotafiore: The 2009 Dodge Challenger was my clear. In my early driving days, I was the proud owner of a beat-up 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T. It had a powerful 383 cubic-inch motor with a four-barrel carburetor and four-speed manual transmission. It had the most unbridled power of any car I've driven to this day. The new Challenger pays homage to my old 1971 with all the technological advances that have come in the last 38 years. While the old car had power, its handling, ride, and comfort all left much to be desired. I'm sure Challenger purists would disagree, but I could see myself cruising to work every day in the '09 version, something that I wouldn't have wanted to do in my '71. Gene Petersen: Domestic car makers draw on the past. You have to look back 40 years ago to what made Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors great and formidable car companies. All three automakers were not bashful at all in showing 1960s vintage Dodge Chargers, Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Camaros, and Pontiac GTOs. These were and still are the cars that I dream of, and they were the cars that drew show goers like moths to a bright light. Yet, when looking at the late-model offerings, the car that appealed to me the most was the Ford Flex fitted with oversized wheels and tires. There were numerous Flex concepts on display, and they all looked as cool as the first-generation Scion xB in custom gear. Mike DiLauro: Over the past seven or so SEMA shows that I’ve attended, my favorite vehicle has most often been an SUV. This standout vehicle is usually outfitted for some kind of adventure, whether off-road or for the urban jungle. This year, like the rest of America, I've been more interested in downsized vehicles. So although I'm going to go small this year, it still has to be tricked out to inspire me, since SEMA is all about tuning an OE vehicle and making it into something completely new. I found the best expression of this from Scion. It is fitting that Scion would go to great lengths to live up to that intent. Within the line, the xB hits the sweet spot for tuning—it’s truly the tabula rasa of the auto...
As we wind down our coverage of the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show car and component extravaganza in Las Vegas, CR’s attendees have been reflecting on the vehicles that made the greatest impression. It truly takes something special to stand out among the hundreds upon hundreds of vehicles on display. After all, these show vehicles have been specially prepared for this mega event, often built exclusively for showcasing the latest parts, trends, and building techniques. But, it isn’t always the fanciest car that fuels fantasies, nostalgia, or water-cooler discussions. Between writing more than 20 blog posts about this year’s show, a few team members shared their personal picks. A couple others, overwhelmed by the selection, simply couldn’t decide. John Galeotafiore: The 2009 Dodge Challenger was my clear. In my early driving days, I was the proud owner of a beat-up 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T. It had a powerful 383 cubic-inch motor with a four-barrel carburetor and four-speed manual transmission. It had the most unbridled power of any car I've driven to this day. The new Challenger pays homage to my old 1971 with all the technological advances that have come in the last 38 years. While the old car had power, its handling, ride, and comfort all left much to be desired. I'm sure Challenger purists would disagree, but I could see myself cruising to work every day in the '09 version, something that I wouldn't have wanted to do in my '71. Gene Petersen: Domestic car makers draw on the past. You have to look back 40 years ago to what made Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors great and formidable car companies. All three automakers were not bashful at all in showing 1960s vintage Dodge Chargers, Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Camaros, and Pontiac GTOs. These were and still are the cars that I dream of, and they were the cars that drew show goers like moths to a bright light. Yet, when looking at the late-model offerings, the car that appealed to me the most was the Ford Flex fitted with oversized wheels and tires. There were numerous Flex concepts on display, and they all looked as cool as the first-generation Scion xB in custom gear. Mike DiLauro: Over the past seven or so SEMA shows that I’ve attended, my favorite vehicle has most often been an SUV. This standout vehicle is usually outfitted for some kind of adventure, whether off-road or for the urban jungle. This year, like the rest of America, I've been more interested in downsized vehicles. So although I'm going to go small this year, it still has to be tricked out to inspire me, since SEMA is all about tuning an OE vehicle and making it into something completely new. I found the best expression of this from Scion. It is fitting that Scion would go to great lengths to live up to that intent. Within the line, the xB hits the sweet spot for tuning—it’s truly the tabula rasa of the auto...
A bank for tightwads
Most banks prefer incorporating rock-solid names that inspire confidence like Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington. But we couldn’t resist telling you about a six-month-old lending institution out in Henry County, Missouri, whose name conveys a more timely and contemporary message. It’s...
Most banks prefer incorporating rock-solid names that inspire confidence like Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington. But we couldn’t resist telling you about a six-month-old lending institution out in Henry County, Missouri, whose name conveys a more timely and contemporary message. It’s...
10 Questions for . . . Fernando Pagés Ruiz
In this installment of 10 Questions for . . . , Senior Editor Daniel DiClerico speaks with Fernando Pagés Ruiz, contractor and author of Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget. Here, Ruiz talks about the upside of the economic downturn, details common remodeling pitfalls, and offers tips for slashing winter heating bills. How has the credit crunch impacted the remodeling industry? We had been in a kind of remodeling frenzy. People could justify the expense of remodeling with the rising value of their homes and the fact that it was relatively easy to get money through a second mortgage. Now that justification is over. Even in good times, the best returns on remodeling investments were only around 90 percent, according to Remodeling magazine's annual "Cost vs. Value" reports. How many mutual funds do you know that advertise to customers that they'll get back 90 cents on every dollar invested? So remodeling was never an investment, and it more obviously isn't now. The motivation for remodeling should simply be that you plan to live in the house and you're spending money to make it how you want it. Should home sellers be more motivated to make improvements? If you're selling your house, the idea of getting it into the best selling shape makes tremendous sense, given the intense competition out there. Again, you won't necessarily get the dollars back, but you'll be able to move your house, whereas the neighbor who hasn't done any updating or maintenance may not. Can homeowners negotiate lower costs on their projects? It's a time to find good deals because many contractors who were used to doing a job for 40 to 60 percent over cost will now do it for 20 percent over cost. But depending on the contractor, negotiating can be a good or a bad strategy. You may end up with half a project if the contractor is in distress and looking for some cash flow and agrees to do the job for half the price of what he knows it will take. Chances are he won't be able to finish that job. So it is also a time to be careful. So how do you protect yourself against the project-half-finished outcome? In remodeling, the advantage always goes to the one with the most information. That's usually the contractor. And contractors know more than they let on. The only way to balance that is to become educated. I tell people it should take six to nine months to develop a plan and get to know the products. By the time you talk to your contractor, you should be able to tell if he knows his stuff or not. And you should definitely know more about your project than he does. You should be a very smart consumer by that point. What other mistakes do homeowners make? Starting the work all over the house. This is usually a guy thing, the do-it-yourselfer who starts jumping around doing this and doing that until he finally runs out steam and the house is a mess. You need to start with an overall plan, even if you're going to complete the work in stages. With the plan in place, you can segregate the house into sections and proceed from start and finish in an organized, logical manner. Can you offer any rules of thumb for determining when a project goes from a DIY-friendly one to pro-required job? Anything that has to do with safety. If you need to put in new gas lines, for example, it's a good idea to call in a plumber. Manufacturers have made some projects easier, like tiling a laminate floor or installing a ceiling fan. But leave the skilled work to the professionals, like trim carpentry. If you want your cabinets installed correctly, there are a bunch of things a trim carpenter will know that you won't.
In this installment of 10 Questions for . . . , Senior Editor Daniel DiClerico speaks with Fernando Pagés Ruiz, contractor and author of Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget. Here, Ruiz talks about the upside of the economic downturn, details common remodeling pitfalls, and offers tips for slashing winter heating bills. How has the credit crunch impacted the remodeling industry? We had been in a kind of remodeling frenzy. People could justify the expense of remodeling with the rising value of their homes and the fact that it was relatively easy to get money through a second mortgage. Now that justification is over. Even in good times, the best returns on remodeling investments were only around 90 percent, according to Remodeling magazine's annual "Cost vs. Value" reports. How many mutual funds do you know that advertise to customers that they'll get back 90 cents on every dollar invested? So remodeling was never an investment, and it more obviously isn't now. The motivation for remodeling should simply be that you plan to live in the house and you're spending money to make it how you want it. Should home sellers be more motivated to make improvements? If you're selling your house, the idea of getting it into the best selling shape makes tremendous sense, given the intense competition out there. Again, you won't necessarily get the dollars back, but you'll be able to move your house, whereas the neighbor who hasn't done any updating or maintenance may not. Can homeowners negotiate lower costs on their projects? It's a time to find good deals because many contractors who were used to doing a job for 40 to 60 percent over cost will now do it for 20 percent over cost. But depending on the contractor, negotiating can be a good or a bad strategy. You may end up with half a project if the contractor is in distress and looking for some cash flow and agrees to do the job for half the price of what he knows it will take. Chances are he won't be able to finish that job. So it is also a time to be careful. So how do you protect yourself against the project-half-finished outcome? In remodeling, the advantage always goes to the one with the most information. That's usually the contractor. And contractors know more than they let on. The only way to balance that is to become educated. I tell people it should take six to nine months to develop a plan and get to know the products. By the time you talk to your contractor, you should be able to tell if he knows his stuff or not. And you should definitely know more about your project than he does. You should be a very smart consumer by that point. What other mistakes do homeowners make? Starting the work all over the house. This is usually a guy thing, the do-it-yourselfer who starts jumping around doing this and doing that until he finally runs out steam and the house is a mess. You need to start with an overall plan, even if you're going to complete the work in stages. With the plan in place, you can segregate the house into sections and proceed from start and finish in an organized, logical manner. Can you offer any rules of thumb for determining when a project goes from a DIY-friendly one to pro-required job? Anything that has to do with safety. If you need to put in new gas lines, for example, it's a good idea to call in a plumber. Manufacturers have made some projects easier, like tiling a laminate floor or installing a ceiling fan. But leave the skilled work to the professionals, like trim carpentry. If you want your cabinets installed correctly, there are a bunch of things a trim carpenter will know that you won't.
Tweeter files for bankruptcy: use those gift cards fast
The miserable economy has claimed another victim. With consumer spending at a trickle, Tweeter, the mid- to high-end electronics retailer, will be closing its doors for good following a liquidation sale. The company had planned to stop accepting gift cards...
The miserable economy has claimed another victim. With consumer spending at a trickle, Tweeter, the mid- to high-end electronics retailer, will be closing its doors for good following a liquidation sale. The company had planned to stop accepting gift cards...
LG pulls some refrigerators from Energy Star program
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on November 15 that some LG and Kenmore refrigerators are no longer part of the federal government's Energy Star program because of concerns over the energy use by these models. The LG LFX25950, LFX25960, LFX25971, LFX23961, LFX21960, LFX21971, LFX21980, LFX25980, LMX21981, and LMX25981 (shown) models, as well as Kenmore Trio refrigerators designed and made by LG with model numbers starting with 795 and through-the-door ice and water dispensers, are affected by LG's agreement with the DOE. Read more details in this DOE press release. If you own one of the aforementioned refrigerators, you will get a free modification of your appliance to make it more energy efficient and receive a payment to cover the difference in how much you'll spend to run your refrigerator and what was indicated on the Energy Guide label; payments will continue up to the expected 14-year life span of the refrigerator. To get more details from LG, call 888-848-1266 or go to the company's energy-offer Web site. Look for our additional reporting on this news in the coming weeks.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on November 15 that some LG and Kenmore refrigerators are no longer part of the federal government's Energy Star program because of concerns over the energy use by these models. The LG LFX25950, LFX25960, LFX25971, LFX23961, LFX21960, LFX21971, LFX21980, LFX25980, LMX21981, and LMX25981 (shown) models, as well as Kenmore Trio refrigerators designed and made by LG with model numbers starting with 795 and through-the-door ice and water dispensers, are affected by LG's agreement with the DOE. Read more details in this DOE press release. If you own one of the aforementioned refrigerators, you will get a free modification of your appliance to make it more energy efficient and receive a payment to cover the difference in how much you'll spend to run your refrigerator and what was indicated on the Energy Guide label; payments will continue up to the expected 14-year life span of the refrigerator. To get more details from LG, call 888-848-1266 or go to the company's energy-offer Web site. Look for our additional reporting on this news in the coming weeks.
Hiking GPS units – Garmin eTrex Venture HC
As we have expanded our portable GPS testing program, many readers have requested GPS buying advice and ratings on hiking handhelds inspiring the team here to hit the trails. We purchased a variety of models from Garmin and Magellan to evaluate. (We have heard from a smaller, though no less passionate, group of golfing enthusiasts, but the GPS team will not be hitting the links this year.) Trails have been trekked, dozens of geocaches found, and testing has been completed. We are now working on buying advice and Ratings. As promised, we’ll have the hiking GPS information live this month, leaving ample time for holiday shopping. As we get the big pieces together, our first review is of the affordable Garmin eTrex Venture HC. We found the eTrex Venture HC to be a great entry-level handheld device that is well-suited for the casual hiker or someone just getting started in geocaching. The other units evaluated are significantly more expensive, with additional features and in some cases much slicker overall packages. However, we found the eTrex Venture HC was equipped with the features that will matter most to the typical weekend adventurer. Read our Garmin eTrex Venture HC first look for the full story. We’ll have much more to report on hiking units in the days ahead. —Jeff Bartlett For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.
As we have expanded our portable GPS testing program, many readers have requested GPS buying advice and ratings on hiking handhelds inspiring the team here to hit the trails. We purchased a variety of models from Garmin and Magellan to evaluate. (We have heard from a smaller, though no less passionate, group of golfing enthusiasts, but the GPS team will not be hitting the links this year.) Trails have been trekked, dozens of geocaches found, and testing has been completed. We are now working on buying advice and Ratings. As promised, we’ll have the hiking GPS information live this month, leaving ample time for holiday shopping. As we get the big pieces together, our first review is of the affordable Garmin eTrex Venture HC. We found the eTrex Venture HC to be a great entry-level handheld device that is well-suited for the casual hiker or someone just getting started in geocaching. The other units evaluated are significantly more expensive, with additional features and in some cases much slicker overall packages. However, we found the eTrex Venture HC was equipped with the features that will matter most to the typical weekend adventurer. Read our Garmin eTrex Venture HC first look for the full story. We’ll have much more to report on hiking units in the days ahead. —Jeff Bartlett For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.
2008 SEMA - Walking the miles of aisles
Anyone who has attended the massive SEMA show in Las Vegas can attest that spending a fair bit of time as a pedestrian is necessary when taking in the giant car accessory and equipment event. The question is, how much? Being both a reporter and a glutton for punishment, I decided to find out this year. I borrowed a top-rated Omron Healthcare HJ-112 pedometer from our testing lab, strapped it on, and worked the show. The result? I walked, hobbled, and limped eight miles the first day, including schlepping from my hotel to the monorail to get to the show, and a leisurely stroll to dinner in the evening. The second day, I logged seven. By the third day, I was ready to give the Omron pedometer the rest of SEMA off and left it in my room. I knew all I needed to know: the show is huge and my dogs were barking. I figured I’d save a couple of ounces of weight for the remaining two days. Hey, every little bit helps. —Jim Travers Read about more cars, gear, news, and views from SEMA.
Anyone who has attended the massive SEMA show in Las Vegas can attest that spending a fair bit of time as a pedestrian is necessary when taking in the giant car accessory and equipment event. The question is, how much? Being both a reporter and a glutton for punishment, I decided to find out this year. I borrowed a top-rated Omron Healthcare HJ-112 pedometer from our testing lab, strapped it on, and worked the show. The result? I walked, hobbled, and limped eight miles the first day, including schlepping from my hotel to the monorail to get to the show, and a leisurely stroll to dinner in the evening. The second day, I logged seven. By the third day, I was ready to give the Omron pedometer the rest of SEMA off and left it in my room. I knew all I needed to know: the show is huge and my dogs were barking. I figured I’d save a couple of ounces of weight for the remaining two days. Hey, every little bit helps. —Jim Travers Read about more cars, gear, news, and views from SEMA.
2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid: First Drive
Consumer Reports reviews the 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV.
Consumer Reports reviews the 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV.
Heart-attack prevention: Statins aren’t for everybody
I started getting phone calls from my patients almost as soon as the headlines starting appearing last week. All the media were trumpeting the results of a new study showing that rosuvastatin (Crestor), a powerful cholesterol-lowering statin drug, slashed the...
I started getting phone calls from my patients almost as soon as the headlines starting appearing last week. All the media were trumpeting the results of a new study showing that rosuvastatin (Crestor), a powerful cholesterol-lowering statin drug, slashed the...
Making smart Medicare Part D choices
Seniors reeling from the financial crisis and looking to pare living expenses should take a fresh look at their prescription medicines and Medicare Part D plan. Significant savings are possible and the timing is right: The 2009 open enrollment season...
Seniors reeling from the financial crisis and looking to pare living expenses should take a fresh look at their prescription medicines and Medicare Part D plan. Significant savings are possible and the timing is right: The 2009 open enrollment season...
This week in safety
Where do recalled toys and cribs go? That concern was in the news this week as regulators and safety advocates discussed ways to make sure dangerous items don't end up on the secondhand market. And with tougher federal safety regulations about to take effect, retailers are scrambling to keep banned toys and other products off their shelves. We were also amused by an item on cart washes—yes that's cart with a 't'—that disinfect grocery carts between uses. New crib-safety law presents possible problem for eBay, other sites CQ Politics EBay Inc. has been teaming up with regulators to remove online auctions of potentially unsafe cribs, but eBay itself could become a target if the government proceeds with rules to hold online markets liable for sales of outlawed cribs. Read more ... End of toy story: Where do lead-tainted toys go? The Christian Science Monitor The biggest problem with the recall of millions of lead-tainted toys over the last few years has been getting shops and consumers to comply. According to Mattel, which has issued dozens of recalls in recent years (including some 2.2 million Chinese-made toys contaminated with lead paint), historically only about 6 percent of recalled toys are returned. Read more ... Toy regulations affect direct retailer DM News Toy catalog and Internet retailers are scrambling to meet deadlines for new regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding the banning of lead and phthalates in toys, as well as how they inform consumers about toy safety warnings. Read more ... Taking the gross out of grocery cart The Wall Street Journal When Brad Blaine grabbed a cart on a recent run to the Chevy Chase Supermarket in suburban Maryland, he noticed it was a little moist. He was puzzled, he says, until he figured out that the cart had been pushed through a sort of car wash for shopping carts—a hut set up at the store that mists a disinfecting peroxide solution onto carts as they're pushed through. Read more ... Senator Klobuchar announces new carbon monoxide legislation KSAX TV (ABC News) Proposed federal legislation would build on a new Minnesota law requiring carbon monoxide detectors in every single-family home, Senator Amy Klobuchar announced at St. Paul's Fire Station 8. Klobuchar's proposal builds on Minnesota's new state law which requires all single-family homes to have working CO detectors within ten feet of all sleeping areas. Read more ... Two more Yamaha Rhino victims sue over injuries NewsInferno.com The Yamaha Rhino utility terrain vehicle (UTV) is the subject of two more personal injury lawsuits. Plaintiffs in both lawsuits allege that the Yamaha Rhino contains multiple design flaws rendering it dangerously unstable and unduly prone to tipping and rolling over. Just last week, it was learned that federal safety officials were investigating the Yamaha Rhino, which has been linked to 30 deaths. Read more ... Around the CR Blogs Electronics: Apple's bloated batteries Health: CR food labeling poll reveals safety concerns Baby&Kids: Infant gas-relief drops recalled Don't miss these recalls 18,000 My Little Train Classics (choking hazard) 13,000 Honda off-road competition motorcycles (weld failure) 130 Swim 'N Score dive stick sets (impalement) 8,000 Cobra children's two way radios (chemical burns) Two lots of Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder (foreign materials)
Where do recalled toys and cribs go? That concern was in the news this week as regulators and safety advocates discussed ways to make sure dangerous items don't end up on the secondhand market. And with tougher federal safety regulations about to take effect, retailers are scrambling to keep banned toys and other products off their shelves. We were also amused by an item on cart washes—yes that's cart with a 't'—that disinfect grocery carts between uses. New crib-safety law presents possible problem for eBay, other sites CQ Politics EBay Inc. has been teaming up with regulators to remove online auctions of potentially unsafe cribs, but eBay itself could become a target if the government proceeds with rules to hold online markets liable for sales of outlawed cribs. Read more ... End of toy story: Where do lead-tainted toys go? The Christian Science Monitor The biggest problem with the recall of millions of lead-tainted toys over the last few years has been getting shops and consumers to comply. According to Mattel, which has issued dozens of recalls in recent years (including some 2.2 million Chinese-made toys contaminated with lead paint), historically only about 6 percent of recalled toys are returned. Read more ... Toy regulations affect direct retailer DM News Toy catalog and Internet retailers are scrambling to meet deadlines for new regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding the banning of lead and phthalates in toys, as well as how they inform consumers about toy safety warnings. Read more ... Taking the gross out of grocery cart The Wall Street Journal When Brad Blaine grabbed a cart on a recent run to the Chevy Chase Supermarket in suburban Maryland, he noticed it was a little moist. He was puzzled, he says, until he figured out that the cart had been pushed through a sort of car wash for shopping carts—a hut set up at the store that mists a disinfecting peroxide solution onto carts as they're pushed through. Read more ... Senator Klobuchar announces new carbon monoxide legislation KSAX TV (ABC News) Proposed federal legislation would build on a new Minnesota law requiring carbon monoxide detectors in every single-family home, Senator Amy Klobuchar announced at St. Paul's Fire Station 8. Klobuchar's proposal builds on Minnesota's new state law which requires all single-family homes to have working CO detectors within ten feet of all sleeping areas. Read more ... Two more Yamaha Rhino victims sue over injuries NewsInferno.com The Yamaha Rhino utility terrain vehicle (UTV) is the subject of two more personal injury lawsuits. Plaintiffs in both lawsuits allege that the Yamaha Rhino contains multiple design flaws rendering it dangerously unstable and unduly prone to tipping and rolling over. Just last week, it was learned that federal safety officials were investigating the Yamaha Rhino, which has been linked to 30 deaths. Read more ... Around the CR Blogs Electronics: Apple's bloated batteries Health: CR food labeling poll reveals safety concerns Baby&Kids: Infant gas-relief drops recalled Don't miss these recalls 18,000 My Little Train Classics (choking hazard) 13,000 Honda off-road competition motorcycles (weld failure) 130 Swim 'N Score dive stick sets (impalement) 8,000 Cobra children's two way radios (chemical burns) Two lots of Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder (foreign materials)
Are stores relaxing return policies?
Here’s some potentially good news in the otherwise dismal economic climate. A new survey by the National Retail Federation concludes that many retailers will be adhering to more generous merchandise return policies this holiday season — extending the amount of...
1
Here’s some potentially good news in the otherwise dismal economic climate. A new survey by the National Retail Federation concludes that many retailers will be adhering to more generous merchandise return policies this holiday season — extending the amount of...