Research Blog : shopping

Links for the holidays

googler@evpl — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:47:00 GMT

I've come across a whole bunch of links appropriate to the season.

The Federal Trade Commission has all the info you need about gift cards, with tips on what to ask when you buy them, and contacts for problems.

The Responsible Shopper wants to promote a responsible economy, and believes consumer education is a good way to do that. Their database allows you to "search hundreds of company profiles by name or by industry and quickly compare the corporate responsibility records of companies."

Don't let Santa come down a dirty or dangerous chimney. This site tells you how to make your fireplace and chimney safer by proper cleaning and maintenance.

Your Christmas cactus and poinsettias, and other common seasonal houseplants, all have differing needs for water, light, etc. Read this site to keep them happy so they'll keep your home festive.

Need some holiday trivia, fast facts, statistics? The US Census Bureau features the holiday season this month with facts and figures from its data collection.

DailyLit is a website that supplies free digital books via email or RSS, which might be a fun way to re-read A Christmas Carol. Subscribe using the box at the right of the screen.

Looking for fun family activities? This site has tons of Christmas craft ideas with great instructions, difficulty ratings, and age recommendations. (My favorite is a Santa made out of a potato chip tube that they probably would have called "Chris Pringle" if it weren't for the trademark.)

Last, prepare for New Year's Eve by reading the champagne primer. Epicurious.com explains the varieties of sparkling wines, how to read labels, how to store, how to serve, and much more.

Getting the most from online shopping

googler@evpl — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:56:00 GMT

I kept hearing from my online friends about "Bing cashbacks," and had no idea what they were talking about, until I ran across this great article in the New York Times about online shopping rebates, including those offered by the Bing, the new Google-like search engine.

The article is an excellent rundown on using the rebate sites (Bing, FatWallet, Ebates) and (in some cases) your credit card's shopping site to take advantage of points programs and cash-back programs. Some sites offer discussion forums, where members post the best deals they've found. And one site allows shoppers to direct a portion of their shopping dollars toward higher education costs.

"How much you actually save depends on how much you spend, what programs you use and how vigilantly you watch the sites for the best deals, some of which change daily. If you spend $682, the average expected holiday budget, and earn an average of 7 percent cash back, that's nearly $50. And if you book your airline tickets through one of these programs, or buy big-ticket items in the electronics department, the savings can add up to much more. Using these programs year-round - for shopping you were going to do anyway - is the best way to accumulate real savings."

Cash for Clunkers…or the CARS Program: what you should know before you walk into a dealership

SuDocQueen@evpl — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:15:00 GMT

I was listening to the radio this morning when one of the announcers started talking about the great deal you could get by trading in your old gas guzzler for a new more fuel efficient car. It’s great that they’re helping to get the word out, but I don’t think they had enough time to go into the important details. And those details are great to know before you start talking to a car salesman.

For example, the announcer said the rebate is $4,500 but that’s only partially true. The rebate will be either $3,500 or $4,500. Which amount you get will depend on the difference in the fuel economy between your old car and the new one. Go to the FAQ section of the CARS program and look under “What is the value of the credit for the purchase or lease of a new…” to understand how the amount is figured. A $1,000 can be an important distinction when you’re counting your pennies.

The main page of www.cars.gov gives you a quick rundown of the most pertinent info you need to know about the program. From there you can click through to the questions that will determine if your car meets “clunker” status, you can peruse the above mentioned FAQs for more in-depth info, and you can find out which dealers are taking part in the program.

Happy car shopping to those who qualify!

If you're shopping for toys this month

googler@evpl — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:10:00 GMT

Do you feel a bit overwhelmed when trying to choose gifts for the kids on your list? HealthyToys.org includes test results for more than 1,500 toys and children’s products. This site is a first step in providing parents, grandparents, and others who care about children with the information they need to make better choices when purchasing toys and other children’s products.

Business Week magazine recently published an article on "Toy Shopping in Tough Times," with suggestions for thrifty shoppers.

And on the Consumer Reports blog you'll find toy shopping hints by age.