SavvySugar

Consumer Reports: How to Make Pricey Appliances Last

SavvySugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:28 -0800

The cost of maintaining a home and appliances is often a major deterrent for those debating whether to rent or purchase a home. The unexpected expense of fixing leaky gutters and broken dishwashers can be budget breaking if it comes at the wrong time of month. Not to mention it's a huge pain. Consumer Reports has put together a great guide for how to extend the useful life of appliances and pricey goodies. Obviously, the key is maintenance and keeping a watchful eye on appliances so they don't break down unexpectedly and leave you in a pricey pinch. Consumer Reports suggests:

Cell phones
Don't stow in your car's glove compartment during the summer. Otherwise, batteries may overheat, possibly ruining the phone. If you've been known to drop your cell phone, treat it to a protective case.

Clothes dryers
Clean the lint filter after each use and the entire air duct yearly. If your dryer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable new model. But don't expect much gain in performance or efficiency, since dryer technology hasn't changed much.

Clothes washers
Don't overload. If your washer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable model. If you're replacing, consider a high-efficiency washer, which should save money over time. Also consider a front-loader, which is less punishing to clothes than a top-loader.

Dishwashers
Check the filter regularly and remove any debris.

To see additional suggestions and reminders, read more.

Hardwood floors
Dust mop or vacuum weekly. Wipe up wet spills pronto.

Kitchen knives
Keep them out of the dishwasher and store them in a wooden knife block or individual plastic shields.

Laptop computers
Set them on a hard, flat surface rather than a soft one such as a bed or carpet, which can block airflow and cause them to overheat.

LCD TVs
Clean the screen gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth, ideally a microfiber one. Avoid commercial cleaners and paper towels, which can scratch the screen.

Mattresses
Rotate periodically. Try not to sit on the edge. Buy a washable, protective cover. And pull back the sheets and blankets to let the bed air out for 20 minutes or so each morning.

Visit the Consumer Reports website for more tips on making your pricey goods last.

Money Tip: What to Shop For in March

SavvySugar — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:01:03 -0700

We're about halfway through March, which means most of us are balancing our monthly budgets and taking stock of what we might splurge or spend on for the remainder of the month. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, March is a great time to purchase TVs because you can generally save up to 15 percent on the cost of a TV from last year's line. To see what else experts from Consumer Reports suggest picking up this month, read more.

The folks from Consumer Reports say March is also a great time to purchase:

Computers
Humidifiers
TVs
Winter coats
Winter sports gear

I've noticed Winter coats on the sale racks of my favorite stores for the past few weeks. Have you seen any of these items with bright red tags?
Source

Five Energy Saving Ideas For Renters and Owners

SavvySugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:00:18 -0700

The weather turned ch-ch-ch-chilly this weekend, and while the season change gets us in the mood for Halloween it also means we can expect higher energy bills sooner than later. Right on time, Consumer Reports came up with a list of 25 ways to save on utilities when the weather is cold. They are all great tips but these five ideas can appeal to both renters and homeowners alike.

Save $25 to $75 each year by using the system standby or hibernating feature on your computer.
Don't overload the dryer. Clothes will take longer to dry - and they'll come out wrinkled.
Open blinds and shades on cold days. Solar heat gain can raise interior temperature significantly. But close them at night to minimize heat loss.
Dust off the slow cooker. You'll use a lot less energy than cooking a meal across several burners and in the oven.
Lower the temperature a degree or two before guests arrive. A house full of people generates a lot of body heat.

Source

Three Credit Cards to Avoid

SavvySugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:30:13 -0700

While it may give you a temporary headache, reading the fine print on credit card offers does pay off. Consumer Reports composed research to narrow down the best credit cards available, and in the process it found a few so bad it had to warn us to stay away in its October issue. Here are the three cards they say are the pits; if you come across other cards with similar terms, steer clear.

First Premier Bank Card: Its 9.9 fixed APR is fine, but the card comes with first-year fees up to $276! There's a $29 account-setup fee, a $95 program fee, $48 annual fee, a $7 monthly servicing fee, and sometimes a $20 additional annual fee.
American Dream Card from HSBC: Each time you charge something you're entered into a lottery for prizes up to $25,000 and you'll be prompted to fill out surveys for chances to win additional prizes. The card comes with a 15 to 22 percent APR.
New Millennium Visa or MasterCard: There's a $59 annual fee, $100 processing fee, a 19.5 percent APR, and no grace period before your balance begins incurring interest.

Source

5 Savvy Ways to Spend Smart and Save This Weekend

SavvySugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00:53 -0800

If you spent Monday through Friday monitoring your spending and trying to be productive and efficient, don't erase all your hard work with a wild weekend of spending. Consider these smart saving tips before you whip out your wallet this weekend.

The Deal Behind Spending Money to Save Money Gimmicks - Banks offering plans that deposit money into a savings account every time you spend money are encouraging their customers to build up their savings accounts, which is a good thing. But when the Consumer Reports Money Lab researched competing plans, it found that most of them aren't the best solution.
Cost-Saving and Social Weekend Ideas - When you work so hard all week long, it's tempting to just throw caution to the wind on the weekend and spend your hard-earned money without a plan. I'm all for enjoying your time away from the office, and have come up with nine weekend activities that won't break the bank. Spend less money while enjoying quality time with a friend or two by using one (or more!) of my ideas.
Put It to the Test: Would It Be Cheaper to Make It Yourself? - Perfecting your Orange Julius skills may not be as productive as it once was, but there is a prudent way to play in the kitchen.

For the rest of my weekend saving tips, read more.

Remember, It's About the Moments, Not the It-Bags - Lindsay Price reminds us what it's all about.
Learn How to Do Something New This Weekend - Self-sufficiency is the biggest asset you can have during this down economy. That means not borrowing money from your credit card carrier, but it also includes daily tasks that you often rely on others to complete.

Do you have a great tip for saving on the weekend? Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account, then join the How Do You Save? group and share it! And you never know, it could be featured on SavvySugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Is It Rude to Regift?

SavvySugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:45:10 -0800

Have you stashed away disappointing holiday gifts from last year only to disguise them as new presents for others this year? If so, you're not alone. According to Time, a recent Consumer Report survey suggests that 36 percent of holiday gifters will be regifters this season, passing along unwanted or unneeded items from season's past.

Sure, the idea's a guaranteed money and time saver. It also ensures that nothing unwanted goes to waste - or does it? If you didn't like the gift in the first place, what makes you so sure someone else is going to? Unless of course he or she is dying for whatever item you've previously rejected and are wrapping up this year. And of course, there's always the risk that the original gift-giver pays you a visit this year, and looks for the special present she gave you last year to ensure that it's being used and loved.

Well, obviously there's a certain art form and etiquette to the whole regifting process, and if you're smart about how you regift, you'll probably get away with it, no questions asked. So tell me, is regifting something you do? Or is it rude to give hand-me-down presents from past holidays?

On Board and Ready To Buy

SavvySugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:41:23 -0800

In a new move to up their retail, airlines may soon be offering more in-flight opportunities to purchase anything from limousine services to Broadway theater tickets. Though The New York Times reports that only American Airlines has begun limited testing of the retail concept, nearly all airline carriers have confirmed that they are planning to unveil similar expanded retail offerings on flights.

So why expand retail, especially in the midst of a recession? Well, according to SkyMall president Christine Aguilera, airline passengers are "some of the greatest consumers on the planet," simply because they've got nowhere else to go and nothing else to do. This aspect makes "onboard" retail unique because, frankly, "operators are able to lock their doors with their shoppers still inside."

To learn more about airline retail, keep reading

6 Saving Suggestions to Consider This Weekend

SavvySugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:00:39 -0700

If you spent the week carefully monitoring your spending and trying to be productive and efficient, don't play clueless on the weekend and blow all your efforts with a Saturday spending spree. Consider these smart saving tips before you whip out your wallet.

Take a Hands-Off Approach to Spending Less - Research shows that you don't necessarily have to stay out of stores altogether, but you should be mindful of where you put your hands if you want to refrain from spending.
Calculate a Purchase in Terms of Hours Worked - As much as we all promise ourselves that we'll only buy things we absolutely cannot live without, sometimes in the heat of the shopping moment that mentality is substituted by one of like, not love.
Ask These Four Questions Before You Spend - Besides calculating the cost in terms of hourly compensation to judge whether or not a particular item is worth your time and money, there are some other things to keep in mind.

For three additional suggestions, read more.

Inexpensive Things to Do This Weekend - More than half of you admit that spending more money on weekends is a given, but that doesn't always have to be the case. Challenging ourselves to occasionally be more mindful of our money on weekends may make us think twice before blowing our budgets on those days when watching our wallets isn't necessarily on our minds.
The Deal Behind Spending Money to Save Money Gimmicks - Banks offering plans that deposit money into a savings account every time you spend money are encouraging their customers to build up their savings accounts, which is a good thing. But when the Consumer Reports Money Lab researched competing plans, it found that most of them aren't the best solution.
Cost-Saving and Social Weekend Ideas - When you work so hard all week long, it's tempting to just throw caution to the wind on the weekend and spend your hard-earned money without a plan. I'm all for enjoying your time away from the office, and have come up with nine weekend activities that won't break the bank. Spend less money while enjoying quality time with a friend or two by using one (or more!) of my ideas.

10 Time-of-Day Discounts, From A.M to P.M

SavvySugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:00:33 -0700

Timing is everything. Money saving opportunities can be found all day long - if you arrive at the right time. Consumer Reports tapped its secret shoppers for intel on timely bargains and shared the tips in the magazine's July issue. Do more with your money by hitting the sweet savings times at the places you frequent, from salons and restaurants to supermarkets and the movies.

View Slideshow ›

Reader Tip: Keep Your Appliances in Their Best Shape

SavvySugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:00:39 -0700

Dishing out extra dough to fix pricey appliances is a real pain so it's in your best interest to keep them in tip-top shape. Consumer Reports recently put out a helpful guide to making appliances last, but washing machines didn't make the list. Thank goodness for the Thrifty Tips - Getting The Most Out of Life group in the SavvySugar Community. Beachwalker advises:

To keep your washing machine new, every few months fill the machine with warm water and a pint of vinegar. This will clean out the hoses and stop clogging. This works for the dishwasher as well!

Have you ever tried this tactic? Have a thrifty tip to share? Join the Thrifty Tips - Getting The Most Out of Life group in the SavvySugar Community and preach!