Since I wrote an article recently on the top consumer and personal finance stories of 2021, I was interested in a list offered by U.S. PIRG on the progress made in health, climate, and consumer issues in 2021. U.S. PIRG, a public interest research group, and its state partners worked on or supported many of these issues. Read more →

Holiday spending during November and December will grow between 8.5 percent and 10.5 percent over 2020 to between $843.4 billion and $859 billion, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. The NRF expects that online and other non-store sales will increase between 11 and 15 percent. Read more →

Many of things you may buy for the holidays, such as toys, laptops, and phones, have chips in them. Since there’s a global chip shortage, prices are going up, and items with chips will probably be harder to find. Scammers are taking advantage of these shortages and are trying to sell items in short supply. Read more →

myCharge is recalling about 67,000 powerbanks. The powerbank’s lithium-ion battery can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards. myCharge has received 30 reports of the powerbanks overheating, resulting in seven injuries and/or property damage to household flooring, walls, and furniture.  Read more →

Prices are going up, and although the chair of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, says it’s temporary, he also says it’s transitory. That means the increased prices aren’t going to go back down right away, they’ll linger. To help you keep your spending even, here are some tips for cutting costs: Read more →

We’re getting some nice days here in the Seattle area, which is leading to spring activities such as planting gardens and hiking. Our blogging group, which spreads out from coast to coast, is as busy as bees with a variety of activities and thoughts Read more →

Black Diamond is recalling about 66,100 sport avalanche transceivers in the U.S. and about 12,500 in Canada. Black Diamond has received 65 reports of the transceiver modes switching unexpectedly while in use. One death and a skier who was caught in an avalanche and injured were reported. Read more →

Verizon is recalling about 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspots. The lithium ion battery in the hotspots can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards. Verizon has received 15 reports of overheating, including six reports of fire damage to bedding or flooring and two reports of minor burn injuries. Read more →

This week, I wrote the 100th issue of my newsletter Helpful Money Tips for You. To celebrate, instead of offering my usual 10 tips, I offered 100. To sign up to get my free newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/gkZ6JH. You'll get it in your email. Read more →

Scammers are taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to steal money from people. During these chaotic times, knowing about possible scams is the first step toward preventing them. Scammers are inventing new schemes as well as repurposing old ones. Be alert as you go about your covid daily lives. Read more →