It’s a consumer financial technique I recommend all the time on my blog and in my weekly newsletter: compare prices. The importance of continually doing it showed up when I was shopping with my daughter the day after Christmas at The Rack. I didn’t find any boots that fit, so... Read more →

Happy New Year. It's going to be a challenging year for consumers, but with continuing research and action, we'll make it through. ln addition to reading my blog regularly, you can get helpful information from my free, weekly newsletter, "Helpful Money Tips for You." It will arrive on Thursdays in... Read more →

It’s that time of year. Many people are familiar with after Christmas sales and January white sales. On Monday, I took my coupons that Macy’s keeps sending me to the store to see if I could find anything good on sale. Right away, I saw some red and green plaid... Read more →

Today’s the day. Tomorrow, too. Hopefully, you followed my advice and kept your receipts for your holiday purchases. It’s likely that you or someone in your family will need to return of a holiday gift soon. A survey at the end of the 2023 holiday season found that nearly one... Read more →

Merry Christmas if Christmas is a holiday you celebrate. It’s a day of joy for so many reasons. The celebration of Christ’s birth, the getting together with family and friends, and a time to give unto others. And for giving, Americans are into giving in a big way. With 92... Read more →

On Friday, I wrote about the importance of cooking, decorating, and selecting toys with safety in mind this holiday season. It’s also critical to think food safety in the kitchen. The joy of parties, family dinners, and other gatherings can change to misery if food makes you or others ill.... Read more →

It’s that time of year again. Stores are bustling with shoppers, delivery drivers are pulling up daily, and people are exhausted. And while it’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year, 68 percent of people say Santa will be less generous this year due to inflation and 31... Read more →

The holidays are usually filled with good wishes and joy. However, things can go very wrong quickly. Think safety first while cooking, decorating and buying toys. In 2023, an estimated 154,700 children 12 years or younger were treated in emergency rooms due to toy-related injuries, and 10 children died in... Read more →

Some stores have short or unfriendly return policies. These and other stores often extend their return policies during the holidays. However, many stores only give you a few weeks to return your item even during the holidays. If you’re dealing with dozens of gifts, it might even be a good... Read more →

I just got a call from a man crying and saying, “Mom, I’m not doing very well.” I hung up. It was a scam. Not only don’t I have any sons, I’m also a consumer journalist who writes about scams frequently. Imposter scams are one of the top scams every... Read more →