One Way to Make the Holidays Enjoyable

An almost unavoidable aspect of the Holidays is shopping. Like many, I look forward to shopping--it's the only time of year I can let my inner shopaholic emerge--going into stores with holiday music playing, the thrill of tracking down a good deal, the irrational joy involved with buying, the ability to spend money and justify it since it's gifts for others--what's not to like? The bills that come in after the Holidays--that's what's not to like.

While we need it year round, during the Holiday season we really need to develop that inner voice of caution that starts with telling us to create a budget of what we can afford to spend on gifts, holiday trimmings, parties, food and items involved in gift giving and entertaining. Call it a Spending Plan since we're clearly going to spend and it may make us more inclined to develop it if we're not as negative about it as we are about "budgets". Be honest when coming up with--if you are going to get your pets gifts but hate to admit what you spend on them, put them on the Spending plan anyway.

Once you've taken the admirable step of creating your Spending Plan, check it at least every week. It's way too easy to start shopping and let our good intentions slip away but if you're looking at your plan every week, you can reign in your impulses before it's too late.

When your shopping is done, and you're on track with your Spending Plan--congratulate yourself and celebrate your success in being financially responsible (in a small, affordable way of course!). The Holidays will be even more enjoyable when you aren't stressed about if you have overspent-AND-January will be a lot happier if you're aren't dreading credit card bills! Check some other Holidays Shopping Tips on FTC's website.

Stop Calling Me! How to Remove Your Name from Telemarketing Lists

Don't Throw Your Phone Out-Learn to Stop Those Calls

As the Holiday season approaches, you will probably see an increase in telemarketing calls.  You can’t avoid unwanted calls completely, but according to the nonprofit National Consumers League, you can reduce the number of calls you receive.  

Don’t provide information that isn’t necessary for the transaction.  Don’t just fill in the blanks on order forms, warranty forms, etc. without considering whether you want to limit the information you supply.

Think twice before entering contests.  Entry forms are often used to build marketing lists.

Know the privacy policy.  Look for explanations about what personal information the company collects, how is it used, and what control you have over it.  If you don’t know what the privacy policy is, ask.

Know when your personal information is being collected.  Be aware of Automatic Number Identification, which shows the number you’re dialing from when you call a company’s 800 number.  Ask what information is being collected and tell the company if you don’t want to be put on a marketing list.

Understand that unlisted and unpublished phone numbers don’t guarantee privacy.  Marketers may get your number if you’ve given it to others or they may dial you randomly.

Know your rights.  Federal law allows you to tell telemarketers not to call you again.  Ask your state consumer protection agency if you have “Do Not Call” rights under state law.

Industry associations can help.  Call 888-567-8688 to get off marketing lists for preapproved credit and insurance offers (this does not affect your ability to apply for credit or insurance).  The Direct Marketing Association’s Telephone Preference Service will remove you from many major companies’ telemarketing lists.  

Report violations of your federal “Do Not Call” rights to the Federal Trade Commission, 877-382-4357 or http://www.ftc.gov/ and the Federal Communications Commission, 888-225-5322 or http://www.fcc.gov/cib.  You can also sue in small claims court under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act for $500.   For more tips go to NCL's Privacy Site.

This Fall--Get Your Home Ready for Winter

With temperatures dropping, we need to work on our fall “to-do” list to maintain our homes and save money.

If you are buying firewood, make sure you select a licensed firewood dealer. A cord of wood is defined as eight feet long by four feet high and four feet wide. Ask specifically for dry, seasoned wood. Have your chimney cleaned by a licensed chimney sweep. Make sure the fireplace damper is in the closed position when the fireplace is not in use.

Clean your rain gutters and downspouts.  Have the seals around any openings in the roof—such as chimney, skylights, and plumbing vent pipes inspected for signs of deterioration. Roof leaks are the most common source of water damage in the home.

Inspect exterior walls, foundation, patio, steps and walkways for cracks or deterioration that could present a tripping/slipping hazard or allow water to seep in and freeze. Major signs of deterioration should be repaired professionally (ck my previous blog article for hiring a contractor). However, cracks less than ¼ inch wide can usually be caulked by the average handy homeowner.

Shut off water valve to outside faucet, drain water and disconnect hoses. This will prevent freezing pipes.

Keep warm in and cold air out by inspecting insulation to ensure that the layer over the heated part of the house is at least six inches thick. Put storm windows on or use plastic sealant if necessary. Visually inspect and replace damaged or missing weather-stripping around doors and windows.

Check the furnace to ensure that the air circulation fan and the burner are operating properly. Replace dirty air filters and check the operation of the thermostat. To further conserve fuel, it is recommended that thermostat settings not exceed 72 degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night.

Change your batteries in your smoke detector and use a carbon monoxide detector if you have a wood fireplace or gas appliances.

Doing your work now will help ensure that your home is ready for winter and save you hard earned dollars. No one wants to wake up Christmas morning without heat (been there)!

Vroom Vroom

We all love the thrill of owning a new car and smelling that new car smell every time you open the door. But do you know what it takes to get a good deal on a new car? First, do your homework.  Research different cars, their features, safety ratings, and costs associated with them such as gas mileage, repair costs and the cost of insurance. There are several sources for your research such as Consumer Reports, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; Jack Gillis’ Car Buying book; Edmunds—all of these resources have great information on their websites. Be sure to find out the price the vehicle cost the dealer. Next, check out the dealer where you are thinking of shopping—call the local BBB and consumer protection offices to check the dealer’s complaint record.

Once you have identified the car you want and a reputable dealer, go take a test drive and be sure this is the car you want. I’m a firm believer that you should love whatever car you drive—although I have driven many a car because it was what I could afford (first car—1960ish Ford Galaxy) or because it was what I needed at the time (station wagon). When discussing price with the salesperson, be sure to ask if there are any rebates or incentives in effect.

If you decide to finance your car, be aware that the financing obtained by the dealer, even if the dealer contacts lenders on your behalf may not be the best deal you can get. Contact lenders directly. Compare the financing they offer you with the financing the dealer offers you. Because offers vary, shop around for the best deal, comparing the annual percentage rate (APR) and the length of the loan. When negotiating to finance a car, be wary of focusing only on the monthly payment. The total amount you will pay depends on the price of the car you negotiate, the interest rate and the length of the loan.

If you are thinking of leasing a new car, be sure to understand all the terms and conditions. How many miles are covered under the lease—what is the price per mile if you go over that amount? Is there any amount due at the end of the lease? What are the early termination costs?

Be sure to inspect the car carefully before leaving the lot, looking for signs of any damage or excessive wear/tear. It is not a good idea to pick up a car at night when the light is limited.

Before you sign a contract to purchase or finance the car, consider the terms of the financing and evaluate whether it is affordable. Before you drive off the lot, be sure to have a copy of the contract that both you and the dealer have signed and be sure that all blanks are filled in. In general, there is no cooling off period for a new car purchase.

But It's Broken!

Now that we've cleared up return policies, what happens if you want to return an item, not because you don't like the color or it doesn't fit, but because it's broken? First, if the retailer tries to refuse your request to address the broken item because they have a "No Returns" policy,  politely state that their refund policy does not apply in this situation. Be sure to have your receipt and any other documentation with you. Know what the manufacturer's warranty is on the item. Ask the retailer to either repair  the item, replace it or refund your money. Generally speaking, the retailer has legal responsibility to sell you an item that is in working condition and is therefore responsible to make you whole if the item is defective. In addition, if you are fortunate to live in a state that has legally required "Implied Warranties", the retailer and the manufacturer have equal responsibilities to either repair/replace the item or refund your money. That is very helpful when the retailer tries to tell you to ship your defective item back to the manufacturer and deal with the situation yourself (as happened in a case I investigated where the retailer wanted the consumer to ship a large dining room table to the manufacturer! After a heated discussion over Maryland's Implied Warranty laws, the retailer succumbed to reason and fixed the table).

If you have purchased an item that is defective, don't just give up and throw it out. Know your rights and pursue the issue. Contact your local consumer protection office if the retailer won't help you. For more information on defective goods, see this article from Consumer Reports.