Consumers

Are you still taking Celebrex?

Rita R. Robison / September 28, 2009

If you're still taking Celebrex – a drug often prescribed for arthritis, menstrual cramps, and acute pain – Consumer Reports thinks

Recall of the Week: Trudeau garlic duo slicers

Rita R. Robison / September 27, 2009

About 22,000 Trudeau garlic duo slicers manufactured by the Trudeau Corporation, of Canada, are being recalled. The garlic

What were the best and worst consumer experiences you had this week?

Rita R. Robison / September 26, 2009

Recently, I launched a best and worst consumer experience feature on Unlocking The Power of Your Money. I think looking

Secure furniture, TVs, and appliances to prevent tip-over injuries and deaths to children

Rita R. Robison / September 25, 2009

Parents and grandparents need to take simple steps to make sure that furniture, television sets, and appliances are secured to

Injuries up substantially among boomers exercising excessively

Rita R. Robison / September 24, 2009

Many baby boomers stay fit through rigorous exercise that can strain, injure, and wear out their bodies. Exercise-related ailments such

Top 10 states with the worst drinking water

Rita R. Robison / September 23, 2009

Concerned about a series in The New York Times on "Toxic Waters?" AOL Health decided to take a closer look

Baby boomers and skin cancer: What you need to know

Rita R. Robison / September 22, 2009

Boomers are getting older, and the effects of the sun from their youth and their love of outdoor activities are

What America can learn from other nations on how to provide affordable, universal health care

Rita R. Robison / September 21, 2009

The United States not only spends more money on health care than any other nation but also leaves 45 million consumers

Silver, pink, and purple Durabrand DVD players sold by Wal-Mart are being recalled

Rita R. Robison / September 20, 2009

The recent recall of the silver Durabrand DVD player is being expanded to include the pink and purple-colored versions of

This week's top 10 money tips

1. Start earlier to buy an airline ticket because you need to compare the cost of classes within the plane, too.

2. Check out these tips on what to do to avoid over-spending on your cars or cars.

3. Let the FTC know you don’t like surveillance pricing. Prices for products and services need to change based upon supply and demand, not people’s web surfing habits or buying history.

4. Take a look at these seven household expenses, in addition to gasoline, that may rise when oil stays above $100 a barrel including groceries, package and food deliveries, airfares, heating and electricity, household products and clothing, and home repairs and construction.

5. Check out these tips on how to reduce your utility bills in addition to commenting on proposed increases for electricity, gas, water, sewer, and garbage.

6. Expect yields for savings accounts, money market funds, and Treasury bills to be slightly lower due to the recent .25 percent interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve.

7. Build a financial plan by starting with your goals, not someone else’s; be selective about who you listen to; remember that financial planning is about more than investing; and learn the difference between news and noise.

8. Think about September, rather than January, as a better time to set and work toward your big money goals. As the seasons shift, vacations are over and the kids have gone back to school, and you’ve lived enough of the year to know what’s working and what isn’t.

9. Be aware that 63 percent of U.S. consumers have stopped shopping with a retailer or abandoned a purchase because of its return policy, a survey shows.

10. Be aware scammers are using AI to mine information from obituaries to fool family members. Stop and consider if you need to include things such as full names, specific hometowns, employers, schools, and other identifying details.

Sign up for my newsletter and you'll get 10 tips like this every week, for no charge. And, tell your friends and co-workers about it so they can make savvy money choices, too. Here’s the sign up: https://tinyurl.com/makeyourmoneywork. And, for a big bonus, you’ll also get my free e-book on how to optimize their personal finance decisions.

September 17, 2026