Okay, ever been stressed? Can you
do anything about that?
(Answer: yes.) How about
this: a vacation where your
vacation dollars are doubled?
Joined a "social network" online yet? Should you? If you do, how do you do so
safely? (And what about young
people and social networks?).
Thinking about all this could give you the flu. Oh, in Health and Lifestyle, we give
you some preventive tips on that, too.
And did you notice we don't sell flu medication? That's the nice thing about
CCU: we care about your life,
not just about the things we sell you.
These days, every fill-up of the family vehicle brings new sticker shock. The soft economy along with rising fuel prices have many people rethinking their summer travel and vacation plans. Before you decide simply to skip this year’s vacation, consider all the ways you can save money and still enjoy getting away. This month's report discusses ways to get the most for your travel dollars.
Social networking sites are great places to keep in contact with friends, develop relationships and meet new people in interesting places.
Heading to a new city? How easy is it to find a new “friend” in that city on Facebook? This summer, a young person that works with "IsThatSo?" stayed with “Facebook Friends” in four separate countries. Not bad, and good on the budget, too.
But there’s a huge downside to these sites, also. Posting comments or pictures without thinking can get you in big trouble. Just posting something as innocent as your phone number or e-mail address can get you in trouble.
How?
First, adults and schools and businesses head to these sites as much as we do. They’re looking for unguarded comments. “Hey, I wasn’t really sick yesterday; I just faked that excuse,” can get you in trouble at school or fired at work.
With the phenomenal success of sites such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com, the numbers and variety of social networking websites are exploding on the Internet. Some, such as MySpace and Facebook, attract millions of varied users and others may be targeted at fewer individuals with very specific interests. All share the objective of allowing “members” to communicate, or “network,” with other members, and all require that users share some information about themselves. Social networking sites can be a great place to meet other people with your interests. They can be a fun place to meet and interact with friends. The many positives of these sites, however, come with some real dangers—if you don’t use them wisely. This report provides tips for safely using social networking sites.
What are Social Networking Sites?
Social networking sites are online communities where people from all over the world can meet and share common interests. There are hundreds of these sites, some more well known or larger than others. Joining a site is usually free; and after you join, you typically set up a personalized profile or provide other information (such as a personal blog) that other members can see. Members then communicate using tools provided by the site — instant messaging, chat rooms, blogs, and email. On many sites members can post pictures and videos. Some sites allow other members to post comments on your profile or blog.
eBay has become the gorilla of vehicle sales virtually overnight—they’ve facilitated over two million vehicle sales since starting their program. What’s not to like about that?
A lot of things. Before you even head to the eBay site to simply poke around, think about this:
When you buy on eBay, you’re typically buying “sight-unseen.”
You usually don’t get to drive the vehicle.
You’re typically buying from total strangers, and they are usually far away.
Throughout 2007, the number of people shopping online and the number of purchases online is expected to continue to grow rapidly. Whether you buy online frequently or just occasionally, online shopping isn't risk or hassle free, however. As you start the New Year, here are some good pointers and tips for shopping safely on the Internet.
How should you pay for your purchase?
Always make payment for your purchase through the shopping cart or payment service setup by the website. If any seller wants you to make other arrangements to send the payment don't complete the transaction.
Consumer debt, not including mortgages, in the U.S. has climbed to over $2 trillion and continues rising. Part of this surge represents growing credit card debt. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve's campaign to keep inflation in check has forced interest rates higher. Rising interest rates in turn make credit card debt more expensive to pay off. To add pressure, the housing boom also appears to be cooling and in some areas growth in housing values has not just slowed, but declined. Higher interest rates and lower housing values make home equity loans harder to get and less attractive. In real life, all these economic "trends" mean that many consumers are getting deeper in debt and may be finding it harder to make ends meet. Some of these consumers may be considering bankruptcy.
Whether you are traveling for pleasure or business, making travel arrangements that fit your comfort criteria and your budget is every traveler's goal. The many online services make achieving those goals easier than they've ever been, if you learn the ropes. As a dedicated traveler, I share some tips and insights I've learned in covering hundreds of thousands of miles.
Be clear about your travel requirements.
Before you even begin to shop for a vacation destination, airline tickets and a hotel, ask yourself what criteria are most important to you?
How much Americans save—or don't save—has been in the news since the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that the U.S. personal savings rate in 2005 was a negative 0.5%. Debate has boomed about whether the savings picture is actually so bleak because the calculation doesn't take into account any capital gains from investments or increases in home equity that citizens may have. The calculation only looks at personal income and spending to determine the savings rate. But even if the savings picture is rosier, common sense says that as a nation of consumers we are probably not putting enough away for a rainy day or a dire emergency. And of course, there's the question of saving toward something important such as a down payment for a home or a fund for higher education or retirement.
With the big spike in gas prices in the autumn and higher winter heating costs predicted for the rest of this winter, consumers everywhere are looking for ways to save on energy costs. In past reviews, I've offered you tips for saving on fuel costs. Now thanks to some old and new tax incentives, you may also be able to benefit from specific tax deductions or credits for purchasing "clean-fuel" vehicles or taking certain energy conservation measures at home.
Auto Dealership Pressure on Customers Never Goes Away
February/March 2005
Here’s a piece of StraightTalk: Stop right now if you’re thinking about buying or financing a vehicle. More than ever, everything in the car business has become negotiable: the price of the car; the price of the loan; the value of your car; the cost of “add-ons” — even the cost of insurance or service agreements. Quite frankly, you can’t relax for a minute if you want the best deal or the best vehicle.
That’s why we want you to stop and visit StraightTalk before you start the car buying process.
What phone services do you currently have? Local, wireless, long distance, international long distance? What phone services do you really need? There are lots of choices, but what services will best fit your family? By carefully reviewing your needs and the options available, you can get the best value for your telephone dollar. Here is a brief review of the options.
Consumer Affairs agencies across the country get more complaints about poor auto repair service than almost any other area. Repair services and the skills of mechanics can vary widely. But in addition to selecting a service center wisely (see StraightTalk tips), using these ten tips can help you get satisfactory results working with automotive service centers and technicians.
When you purchase a product that is defective or doesn't perform properly or perhaps you receive a service that is unsatisfactory, how do you make a consumer complaint that will get results? Experts recommend using the following steps and tips to resolve a problem.
Be prepared. For any purchase or service, keeping supporting documents is very important. Keep sales receipts, contracts, manuals, warranty information, and any other information that comes with the product or service. Users manuals, warranty paperwork and contracts may describe the process to be followed for complaints. If so, follow those steps. If not, these steps will work.
Act quickly. Some companies may limit their responsibility for responding to complaints to a certain time period.
Winter is upon us and that means cold and flu season. The news has been full of reports of flu outbreaks. Here are some tips from the experts on what you and your family can do to avoid getting sick and respond if the symptoms hit you.
Preventing Colds and Flu
Good health habits can help prevent the transmission of colds and flu. Here are tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
The weeks from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day mark the holiday season for many traditions and cultures in the United States. Each year millions of individuals and families take to road, air, and rail to visit families and friends. Homes are decorated and great feasts prepared. Everyone looks forward to these days. But too often, what should be a time of joy and relaxation becomes a time with too much stress and hassle, or tragically for a few, a time saddened by injury or loss. For example, traffic safety predictions alert us to the potential for injury and death in traffic accidents. Emergency rooms annually treat about 11,000 persons for accidents and fires related to holiday lights and decorations, such as Christmas trees.
Economic hard times, a tense climate after September 11, and uncertain employment opportunities mean that most of us are fighting some degree of stress, frustration, anger, and even depression. If you've got kids, they're facing some of the same realities. But you are not entirely at the mercy of these emotions. The experts involved with the sites below all agree you're the boss when it comes to reacting to stress.
Stress Management Tools Available Online
Here are some powerful tools to help you deal with stress in the best ways possible:
Consumer Guides 
Throughout 2007, the number of people shopping online and the number of purchases online is expected to continue to grow rapidly. Whether you buy online frequently or just occasionally, online shopping isn't risk or hassle free, however. As you start the New Year, here are some good pointers and tips for shopping safely on the Internet.
October 2006
May 2006
April 2006
January 2006
Auto Dealership Pressure on Customers Never Goes Away
July 2004
May 2004
March 2004
January 2004
Economic hard times, a tense climate after September 11, and uncertain employment opportunities mean that most of us are fighting some degree of stress, frustration, anger, and even depression. If you've got kids, they're facing some of the same realities. But you are not entirely at the mercy of these emotions. The experts involved with the sites below all agree you're the boss when it comes to reacting to stress.