Recent Posts
Save on makeup with store brands—really!

Save on makeup with store brands—really!

Have you tried store-brand beauty products yet? If I told you that you could save as much as 40 percent, would you reconsider? In our latest price scan, that’s how much our secret shoppers found that you can save buy choosing Walmart’s Equate Refreshing Apricot Scrub over St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub. [ More ]

Meatless Monday's menu: A tempeh attempt

Meatless Monday's menu: A tempeh attempt

We haven’t had a meatless Monday at my house in a while, so tonight, we’re going big. We’re trying something new: Tempeh (temp-ay), which is a fermented soybean product that’s a cousin to tofu, of which I’m a big fan. Have you tried tempeh? [ More ]

How to complain and really be heard

How to complain and really be heard

Got a gripe with a company or a retailer, and want to know how to file a formal complaint or just fire off a letter to the top dog that will get results? Do you know how to write a letter that will be effective (and not just whiny)? We found some great tips on USA.gov, the official web portal for lots of government information. [ More ]

4 great catalog apps for fun shopping

4 great catalog apps for fun shopping

If you love catalogs and you love shopping online, then catalog apps are your perfect mashup. They feature all your favorite catalog merchants, and a bunch more you haven’t heard of, I’ll bet. We took a good look at four apps recently and found lots to love about each. [ More ]

Heaters, mowers on recalls list

Heaters, mowers on recalls list

BASEBOARD CONVECTION HEATERS About 4,560 Touch Point portable baseboard convection heaters sold exclusively at Meijer stores from September 2011 through February 2013 for about $50. The heaters can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers. [ More ]

Save the Mom: The new Facebook for families?

Save the Mom: The new Facebook for families?

I read recently about a new app called SavetheMom that just came out for iPhone (and is coming soon for Android), a sort of social network for just your family, or whoever you choose for your own inner circle. [ More ]

More customer service tricks to get your way

More customer service tricks to get your way

Last week, I spoke with Jeanne Bliss, who has devoted her career to helping major companies like Land’s End and Microsoft improve their customer-service departments. This week, Bliss reveals more tricks for dealing with customer-service reps that might help you get your way or a better deal. It’s possible. [ More ]

3 great breakfast-for-dinner ideas

3 great breakfast-for-dinner ideas

Comfort food means different things to different people, but we can probably all agree that it is defined as food that soothes the soul as well as the body. While comfort food generally holds more appeal in the cooler months, I find it most heartening at dinnertime after a long day, no matter what time of year. [ More ]

Free snacks and treats for Moms this Sunday

Free snacks and treats for Moms this Sunday

Mother's Day is, of course, all about Mom. But it's also all about free goodies! One of the best things about the mall food court are the free samples. You’re not going for the ambience, of course! And if you go in May, you can grab up even more yummy free (or almost free) treats, especially on Mother’s Day. [ More ]

Recalls include softball bats this week

Recalls include softball bats this week

SOFTBALL BATS About 13,000 Louisville Slugger OneX fastpitch softball bats sold at sporting goods stores and distributed to college amateur competitive softball teams from approximately May 2012 through February 2013 for about $350. The bat’s barrel can separate from the handle during use and strike people nearby. [ More ]