CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

American Eagle: BOGO 50% on all jeans and Ts and free shipping until 9/01

Delias: 15% off and free shipping for Labor Day savings

Geeks.com: Up to 80% off Geeks.com Labor Day sale

Musician's Friend: Labor Day clearance sale

Amazon.com: Save up to 65% this Labor Day

Consumer United: Sign up and save $500-$1000 off home mortgage closing costs

Moving to Massachusetts?

Relocating to Massachusetts? You're in luck. Here's Consumer United's new moving kit (a package of deals offered to our members). Meanwhile, here are a few Boston movers to help with the daunting task:

1. Michael's Movers
43 Braintree St, Allston, MA
(617)-782-9811

2. Isaac's Relocation Services
155 North Beacon St, Brighton, MA
(617)-933-3910

3. Carmel Movers
65 Sprague St West B, Boston, MA
(617)-783-0344

4. Budget Truck Rental
420 Rutherford Ave, Charlestown, MA
(617)-242-8044

5. Roadrunner Moving & Storage
50 Terminal St #1, Charlestown, MA
(617)-776-7615

Remember to change your address! Go to USPS.com to switch for free.

Liar loans prolong mortgage crisis

Crippled by the downward spiral of real estate prices, homeowners who signed up for "liar loans" in better times are now unable to qualify for legitimate mortgages.

Liar loans are types of mortgages taken out with little or no amount of documentation. In other words, they're quick-fix loans approved without requiring proof of the borrower's assets or income.

Ninja loans, which is short for "no income, no job and no assets," is an extreme example of a liar loan that's causing major turmoil in the already tumultuous mortgage market.

According to the Associated Press, agencies like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have lost a combined $3.1 billion between April and June because of defaulted "liar loans."

Click here for more information.

Savings 101 : Five Ways To Save Today

Business Week quizzed financial advisors for tips on how to reduce expenses while boosting savings. Here's a continuation of the savings tips:

21. Get Rid of Investment Charges and Fees
Choose lower-cost mutual funds and index funds instead. This will save you dramatically over the years.

22. Talk to your Friends about Budgeting
Let your free-spending friends know you are on a budget. This way friends won't take your "not today" to heart. Suggest another activity, like an afternoon walk or a free show.

23. Shop with Intelligence
Make a list of the items you need and search for coupons before you shop. There are many great sites to go to for deals, such as Dealhack.com and Bargainist.com.

24. Keep Credit Card "Control"
Be smart with your credit cards. Only use them for emergencies, or make sure you are paying more than the minimum payment each month. Perhaps cut up your card? Some find they spend less on impulse purchases when they use cash.

25. Record your Expenses
Costs can add up really quick. Annualize your expenses, and roughly calculate how much they're costing over a year.

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Linens 'n Things: BOGO 50% off bath furniture and 20% off coupon

Lenovo: Employee pricing on ThinkPad and IdeaPad notebooks with passcode 536686

Amazon: Labor Day sale up to 65% off

EMS: up to 70% off Labor Day sale

Consumer United: Sign up and save $500-$1000 off home mortgage closing costs

'Money on Your Mind' clip on Consumer United

Belinda Fuchs, a Boston-based money motivator and host of the new Somerville Community Access TV (SCAT) show "Money On Your Mind," interviews Consumer United founder and CEO, Justin Dangel, where he discusses the power of consumers banding together to negotiate better deals.

The 30-minute personal finance show airs 7:30 p.m. every Thursday. Click here for more information.

Relocating? Save money on your move

Relocating to Massachusetts? You're in luck. Here's Consumer United's new moving kit (a package of deals offered to our members). Meanwhile, here are a few tips to make your move ... smooth.

1. Donate or Sell Unwanted Items
Once you decide what you need and what you are ready to get rid of, have a garage sale. You can make a lot of money on things you were thinking of throwing away. You can also recycle unwanted items at freecycle.org. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

2. Sell Your Home Like it Is
Before you put your home on the market, think about the extras that can potentially add on value. For example, chandeliers to ceiling fans, appliances, flag poles, fireplace accessories, and built-in shelving systems will probably add more value onto your home than the initial cost. Selling these with your home will guarantee to save you money in moving costs.

3. Put Effort into Packing
The better you pack, the easier the move. Don't use newspaper for packing, because it fades easily. Don't pack too compactly, especially for fragile items. Put heavy items on the bottom and fill up with lighter things. You can also use your linens as cushioning for other items.

4. Manage Your Move
Plan everything out ahead of time. Arrange occupancy dates at your new residence to avoid delays. Switch over your utilities, and check on your bank and savings counts. Plan to transfer deposits so that you don't lose interest. Cancel memberships in advance to avoid membership fees. Remember to change your address before you move.

5. Moving Savings
Choose your moving company carefully, because your possessions will be put into their hands. Don't believe in a low estimate, because an estimate is no more accurate than yours. The cost may be low, but the service may be even lower. Contact a friend or acquaintance who has recently moved for a referral on a moving company.

Change your address online for free at USPS.com

Savings 101 : Five Ways To Save Today

Business Week quizzed financial advisors for tips on how to reduce expenses while boosting savings. Here's a continuation of the savings tips:

16. Pay Bills and Send Emails Online
Set up your bills so you pay automatically every month online. You will save money on stamps, and avoid late fees. Send emails and you will save time spent at the post office.

17. Go Generic
Most brand-name products are the same as the store-brand. Save money by sticking to the store-brand.. although the label might not be as pretty.

18. Deduct Your Business Expenses
Keep personal and business expenses on separate cards. This will make it easier to be reimbursed.

19. Take Time for Big Purchases
Take time and think about what you want to buy. Research the product, read reviews, and take at least 48 hours before you make the purchase.

20. Buy Used
Don't buy new. Most things aren't worth the extra cost. Cars, books, Apple products and furniture can be bought used at a fraction of their original cost.

Check back tomorrow. We'll roll out five new savings tips each day for the remainder of the week.

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Apple: Buy a Mac, get an iPod touch for free after rebate

Ikea: Up to 50% off Labor Day Sale

Amazon: Up to 50% off High Sierra backpacks and messengers

Arby's: BOGO sandwich coupons

Consumer United: New customers who subscribe to FiOS TV between now and Saturday, Oct. 4 will receive their choice of a year's free use of either a high-definition (HD) digital video recorder (DVR) or an HD Home Media DVR.

Oil change in New England?

This year, home heating oil prices have gone through the roof.

Many in Mass. are considering converting to gas heat. The upfront cost of this heating alternative and the rising oil prices are factors in making the switch, leaving New England residents weighing the pros and cons of an "oil change."

The cost of converting oil heat to gas can costs on average $10,000. This includes a new furnace and complete installation. This is a huge upfront expense. However, if oil prices continue to rise, this cost may actually save money over time.

The Energy Information Administration, a statistical arm of the Federal Department of Energy reports that heating oil will average $4.34 a gallon this year, up from $3.31 last year. Gas will be $15.58 per thousand cubic feet, up from $12.72 last year.

Philip Giudice, commissioner of the state's dept of Energy Resources doesn't think one is better than the other. But this year Giudice says gas is the "better economical choice."

Read more here.

MIT students harness smokestack heat

GMZ Energy, a company formed by researchers from BC and MIT, are hoping to harness clean energy from a very unlikely place: commercial smokestacks and furnaces.

"Eventually, we're going to see a tremendous amount of waste heat recovery applications, but that's 5 to 10 years off," Mike Clary, the company’s CEO, said to CNET News. "We have to get to that 10 percent efficiency threshold to start making it viable."

It works by converting exhaust heat, or waste heat, into electricity instead of releasing that heat into the air. The company claims that at ten percent efficiency, the average home could power itself by keeping the heat on.

Car companies such as BMW are also trying to develop similar technology. They plan to create attachments that will harness power that would otherwise be lost through the exhaust pipe.

The major appeal of this technology is that this energy already exists, but it is not being utilized. As a result, scientists only need to capture it effectively as opposed to developing any new methods for producing energy.

A senior vice president at Recycled Energy Development, Dick Munson, said to CNET News that the amount of energy wasted by the creation of exhaust heat is “a problem and an embarrassment.”

The Boston-based team at GMZ Energy is hoping to make that a thing of the past. To read the full text, click here.

--Bridget O'Sullivan

Inside Consumer United :: Bridget O'Sullivan

Bridget O'Sullivan joined Consumer United during its infancy in 2007. She works in the marketing department as a communications associate and as a regional blogger for Consumer United Advocate.

Advice from O'Sullivan? "My favorite personal finance advice is to put all of the money you come across into the bank. You'll be more likely to save it because you have to make that extra effort to take it out again."

A strong believer in Consumer United, she notes how the company's membership offers savings on basic services which impacts the group's members where it matters most ... their pocketbooks.

O'Sullivan enjoys reading in her free time and almost always has more than one book open at once which sharpens her writing skills. She likes to paint as well and is a senior at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.

When asked about her time spent at Consumer United, O'Sullivan adds: "It was amazing to watch (the group) all sit down and puzzle out the solutions to the challenges facing Consumer United in its early days. When it all got started, we worked mostly out of one room and used a white board to lay everything out. Now that those plans are in action, it's great to see the return."

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Southwest: Fares starting at $59 one-way

Vann's: Klipsch iGroove HG iPod speakers $100 shipped

Creative Labs: Up to 80% off speakers, sound cards, and portable electronics

REI.com: Labor Day sale with savings up to 30% off

Consumer United: Sign up and save $500-$1000 off home mortgage closing costs

Savings 101 : Tips on cutting energy costs

Fall is approaching and energy costs are high. Here are some ways to save on energy and gas.

According to The U.S. Department of Energy, Americans are estimated to spend $2,350 on home energy costs this year. This is $2,100 higher than last year. There are some easy ways to cut costs down and most are pretty cheap, requiring little time.

In order to keep out cold and heat, seal the windows of your home. If you can't afford storm windows, plastic film kits do a good job as well.

Install a programmable thermostat that allows you to turn up the heat or air conditioning right before you arrive home. This will save you money during the day. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, the device saves roughly $180 a year in energy costs. It costs $100 for the thermostat itself.

Be efficient! Buy energy-efficient light bulbs, clean and change furnace air filters, and wrap your water heater. You will save money on lighting because they use two thirds less energy and last ten times longer that regular light bulbs. Your appliances will run more cheaply.

If you lower your water heater to 130 degrees, you can still kill germs with the heat. Do your laundry in cold water. Your clothes will last longer and you will save money in your water bill.

Find more energy savers at Bankrate.com

Oil-buying groups save big bucks on heating oil

As homeowners worry over the cost of rising energy bills, several dozen families in Weston, Mass. will save hundreds of dollars on heating oil this winter.

Spearheaded by Weston resident Jan Fine, WBZ reports that he helped families come together to organize a buying group to secure a bulk discount.

The families buy such a large quantity of oil that companies bid on their contract. The wholesale nature of their purchase allows them to save hundreds off of the total price that individual households would pay.

"Last year we averaged about 50 cents per gallon savings over retail cost," Fine tells WBZ's Joe Shortsleeve. "So if you use a thousand gallons that saves you 500 bucks. Two thousand gallons -it saves you a thousand bucks. It's quite a bit of money."

Fine stresses that these groups are fairly easy to organize. To get started, he encouraged people to commit to their interest in the effort by entering their information in an online database, then he got in touch with oil companies.

“We are not an organization. We are simply a group of people who got together on the same database,” he says.

If you’re inspired by Fine’s grassroots effort to negotiate a better deal on heating oil, you can tap into the power of Consumer United's group discount here.

Savings 101 : Five Ways To Save Today

Business Week quizzed financial advisors for tips on how to reduce expenses while boosting savings. Here's a continuation of the savings tips:

11. Get Rid of your SUV
Consider selling your SUV for a vehicle that is less of a gas guzzler. You will save gas and also on your monthly payment by changing your auto loan.

12. Make your own Coffee
Instead of going to Starbucks after mid afternoon, make your own coffee. You could save $20 a week, a good chunk that could be put in savings. If you have to buy coffee, opt for a cheaper beverage.

13. Cut Down your Cable Bill
You can get rid of your movie channels, or even cancel your service entirely. This could save you $100 a month.

14. Bring a List to Warehouse Stores
Wal-Mart, Costco and Sam's Club are great deals, however only buy what you really need when shopping. It's easy to buy in bulk if it's really cheap, but make sure you will use it all.

15. Indulge in Free Entertainment
Check out your public library to borrow books and movies for free. Check your local listings for free shows, concerts, readings and performances.

Check back tomorrow. We'll roll out five new savings tips each day for the remainder of the week.

Savings 101 : Five Ways To Save Today

Business Week quizzed financial advisors for tips on how to reduce expenses while boosting savings. Here's a continuation of the savings tips:

6. Re-evaluate Your Phone Plan
Maybe you are not using all of your minutes on your cell phone plan. Chop down your service plan to save a lot of money. If you have a land line and a cell phone, maybe only one is necessary.

7. Cut Your Lawn
If you have a yard, start cutting your own lawn instead of hiring someone to do so. Use a push mower for a great work out, or listen to your iPod and ride along.

8. Consolidate Your Driving
Plan out your errands into one trip. You will save gas, and time. You can also walk, bike, or rollerblade nearby.

9. Track Your Expenses
Keep an eye on all of your cash so you know where, and how much you are spending. This will help you take control of your finances.

10. You May Have Too Much Insurance
Raise your deductibles for auto and home insurance, and check your life policy if you don't have any dependents.

Click here for savings tip No. 1-5.

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Brooks Brothers: Summer clearance- save up to 60% off

Kmart: Jeans and all apparel BOGO 50% off

Dell.com: Save 20% to 30% off Inspiron notebooks

Patagonia: Save 40% to 60% off apparel and accessories

Consumer United: Sign up and save $500-$1000 off home mortgage closing costs

Consumer Woes: Traumatic AirTran experience

A pair of newlyweds are verbally threatened and harassed at Boston's Logan Airport. And what does AirTran offer in compensation? A $25 travel voucher.

Returning from their honeymoon, a couple checks in three bags before boarding an AirTran flight. Since one bag is oversized, the worker informs the duo that there's a $29 charge. The newlyweds, who had a legitimate gripe, mentions that there was no charge for the bag when they initially flew into Boston.

Annoyed by the question, the AirTran work calls over her supervisor.

The supervisor arrives and says, "If you don't watch it, I'll charge you for that first leg, too." The couple protests and asks for the supervisor's name. The manager will only give out her first name and walks away.

At this point, the worker tucks her badge into her sweater and calls out "Next!" The newlyweds don't budge, and again, they ask for the supervisor's name. The worker refuses to give out her name and yells profanities at the couple, screaming at them to get out of her face. Based on reports, there are numerous witnesses and small children in the line.

AirTran initially denied the couple's claims. However, as reports began to surface, AirTran offered a $25 travel voucher as compensation.

Read more here.

Low interest mortgage deal from Consumer United

As a Consumer United member, you are eligible for a discounted 15- and 30-year regular fixed-rate mortgage. Nothing complicated or exotic, just a straight-forward mortgage where the payments don't change. Our closing cost rates are 25-40% cheaper when you factor in Consumer United's $500-$1000 closing cost discount. Click here to learn more.

Better deals together? Absolutely. Consumer United is a savings-driven, grassroots group that's spearheading a network of ordinary consumers, folks like you, who have joined together to identify the best service providers, negotiate better deals and simplify their lives.

Home sales figures are on the rise

Housing slump gotten you down? Sales are on the rise.

Sales were slacking because Americans believed prices could drop even further. As more homes are entering the market, Americans are able to see the prices drop.

Home sales are finally increasing because of the recent housing slump. This could be due to falling home prices, causing buyers to enter the market. Sales are at a seasonally adjusted rate of 5 million units, the fastest rate in five months.

Sales of previously owned homes increased 3.1% last month. This is a surprise to economists, who expected an increase of 1.2%. The median price for a previously owned home fell in July to 212,400 from $215,100 in June. Sales of Co-op apartments, and condos rose 3.4% in July as the avg. price decreased 2.7% from a year ago.

Read more here.

Farmers' Almanic predicts chilly winter

Put on your snow suits, mittens, socks and hats.

The Farmers' Almanac predicts a colder than average winter this year. Predictions in 2008 are prepared for two years prior, using a secret formula based on sunspots, the position of the planets and the tidal action of the moon.

New Englanders are worried about the high cost associated with this year's winter. "This is going to be catastrophic for millions of people," says Peter Geiger, the almanac's editor. The below average temperatures are bound to cause severe problems, due to the high price of heating fuel.

The National Weather Service believes it will be a warmer than normal winter however the Farmer's Almanac was correct in 2008, when it predicted the Northeast to be hit with a long, cold and snowy winter. The 192 year old Farmer's Almanac publication holds a 80% to 85% accuracy rate for forecasts.

Read more here.

Savings 101: Five Ways To Save Today

Business Week quizzed financial advisors for tips on how to reduce expenses while boosting savings. Here's our take on the savings tips:

1. Cut Utility Bills
Turn off air conditioning, lower the thermostat when possible, turn off lights and buy efficient light bulbs.

2. Cut Back on Eating Out
Bring a bagged lunch to school or work. Eating out rarely costs less than eating at home.

3. Cancel your Gym Membership
The benefits of a gym membership are only worthwhile if you go often. Run outside instead, walk in the park, or play an outdoor sport with a friend.

4. Force Yourself to Save
Trick yourself into saving more. Setup automatic deposits every month from checking to savings and investment accounts. Over time, increase your automatic savings rate.

5. Take an Off-Season Vacation
Luxury Vacation condos can cost dramatically less during the off season. Go camping, stay with friends or visit a low cost location.

Check back tomorrow. We'll roll out five new savings tips each day for the remainder of the week.

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

American Eagle: All jeans buy one get one 50% off

REI: Labor Day clearance--up to 30% off clothing

Office Depot: $120 rebate and free shipping on Acer Extensa widescreen laptop

Newegg.com: $50 off and free shipping on Canon ZR900 digital camcorder

Consumer United: Sign up and save $500-$1000 off home mortgage closing costs

Consumer Woes: Exploding iPod

Are you afraid of your iPod exploding? Buyer's beware.

Dale had his iPod plugged in to charge, using the USB cable that came with his iPod and attaching it to his PC. After around 10 minutes, the iPod began to produce a sizzling sound. He looked at his iPod, just in time to see an explosion of sparks and spewing smoke and immediately disconnected the device.

In most alleged "exploding" iPod cases this is the end of the story. Not in Dale's case. The iPod continued to smoke and spark while exuding a sooty substance. This went on for several minutes, causing a small fire on his table. He extinguished the fire before any harm could be done to his laptop. Eventually, the iPod calmed, although it was extremely hot for many minutes following.

Dale called the Apple hotline and the tech told him he would immediately be granted a new iPod at his local store, regardless of how old Dale's iPod was. When he went in to the local Apple store, no one would replace the iPod. The GM said there was NO WAY the iPod could be replaced, because it was not under warranty and there was no way Apple could ever really know what happened.

It turns out Dale's iPod will be replaced, and the GM at Apple apologizes for Apple and the tech, and for how the situation was handled. Read the full article here.

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Amazon: Save $25 off select grocery orders of $59 and up

BackCountry.com: Save up to 70% off apparel, footwear and gear

Apple: Save up to $1000 off Refurb MacBook Pros

Dell: Save up to 30% off XPS Core 2 Duo notebook PC

Consumer United: New customers who subscribe to FiOS TV between now and Saturday, Oct. 4 will receive their choice of a year's free use of either a high-definition (HD) digital video recorder (DVR) or an HD Home Media DVR.

Boston's inflation rate trumps other metro areas

Inflation is impacting Americans across the country, but the Boston area has been hit especially hard by rising prices. The Associated Press reports that consumer prices increased over six percent last year, the biggest jump of all metropolitan areas.

Overall, inflation rose about 5.5 percent last year. The country has not experienced that kind of year-to-year jump since 1991. One of the major underlying causes for the increase is the price of fuel.

As the price of crude oil spent weeks setting records, those price increases translated into higher prices for gas, food and other goods.

These effects have been compounded in the Boston area because of the region’s distance from the country’s main production centers of food and fuel. A significant amount of the nation’s oil comes from the South and the Midwest, and the Midwest and California are the major agricultural centers.

The more it costs to transport these items and the further they have to go, the more consumers must pay. In addition, many homes in the Boston area are dependant on oil to heat their homes, so an increase in the price of fuel causes home heating bills to rise as well.

--Bridget O'Sullivan

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Apple: $1000 off refurbished MacBook Pros and iMacs

Textbooks.com: Savings and free shipping

EMS: Save up to 40% off

Fannie May: 50% off cheese cakes

Consumer United: Sign up with our new home security service provider, Brinks, and get free installation on Brinks Home Security standard system. This is a $199 savings off their standard offer. Please say you're a Consumer United member and reference the promo code CCP# 28621. Click here to learn more.

Chronicle re-airs feature on Consumer United

The segment featuring Consumer United will air again on Chronicle this Wednesday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. The local WCVB-TV (ABC Channel 5) news piece is called "Cutting Back."

Chronicle interviews Consumer United founder, Justin Dangel, where he discusses the power of consumers banding together to negotiate better deals.

"The core of most people's expenses are their bills and it's very hard for people to find savings there," Dangel tells Chronicle. "We use the size of this group to negotiate and to pool buying power. And it turns out that companies are excited to work with a large group of consumers and give them a better deal."

Dangel, who says he's saved his members over $300,000 on insurance and utilities, says the economy's careening costs drive people like Missy Lioz to search for bargains.

"You go to the supermarket and you look at your utility bills and everything is going up and it's frightening. I get bargains on everything and it never occurred to me that you could negotiate on utilities," Lioz adds. "It feels like finally someone is doing something about what seems like an out-of-control system."

Bussed students may have to walk to school

Parents and officials around the country are waiting until September to see how the current generation of suburban chauffeured students will respond to walking to school.

Hundreds of school districts from Massachusetts to California have been forced to make big-budget cuts this year, and compounded with the high price of fuel, bus routes were some of the first expenses to been crossed off the list.

Cities and towns have responded by increasing the distances from which students are expected to walk. In many places, it’s 1 to 1.5 miles for elementary school students and 2 miles for high school students.

Encouraging more kids to walk has more benefits than just saving money for the school districts. There will be less pollution from the diesel fuel used by school buses, kids will get more exercise and become more oriented in their communities.

The new effort does have some detractors, however. Mary Day, a mother from Shirley, Mass. expressed her concern to CNN. "I remember being a kid," Day says. "Are you going to walk a half-mile down the street to cross in the appropriate way when you see a clear way right there?"

She worries that her sons will come into contact with traffic and train tracks on their way home from school each day. Like many working parents, she can drive them to school inn the morning, but cannot pick them up in the afternoon.

Julie Hatchel, a spokeswoman for a California school district, explains the reasoning behind the unpopular cuts. "Our goal was to keep those cuts as far away from the classroom as possible," she adds.

--Bridget O'Sullivan

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Textbooks.com: Savings, guaranteed buyback and free shipping

J&R Music: Sony XDR-F1HD receiver $99.95

Kohls: Up to 60% off select apparel-Back to school sale

Michaels: 40% off any one item coupon

Consumer United: New customers who subscribe to FiOS TV between now and Saturday, Oct. 4 will receive their choice of a year's free use of either a high-definition (HD) digital video recorder (DVR) or an HD Home Media DVR.

Retail sales drop on a national level

For the first time in five months, retail sales have dropped.

The Commerce Dept. reports Wednesday that retail sales fell .1 percent in July. This is the first drop in retail sales since a .5 percent drop in February. With gas prices at an all time high in July, shoppers say "no" to anything that's not an essential.

The $92 billion in stimulus checks seem to be just a memory. The fragile economy may slow down even more in the second half of the year. On a good note, the all time high gas prices have been falling, hopefully helping consumer spending in the coming months. Economists are still concerned, wondering if gas prices alone will be enough to change the current consumer spending habits.

Susan Taylor-Demming of Naperville, Ill. says, "Play dates instead of water park adventure." Taylor-Demming says her budget this year has meant that she drove to New Jersey with her two daughters instead of taking a flight for a summer vacation.

Tony Fratto, presidential spokesman at the White House, believes that July sales reflect a decline in auto sales caused by high gas prices. Excluding autos, retail sales would actually have increased .4%.

Read the full article at the Washington Post.

Gas prices and electric bike sales climb

You are environmentally friendly, and you are about to go out with your friends. You're not about to sweat it up on your bicycle.

Alternative? Grab your electric bike.

The Associated Press shows that with the rising cost of gas, and more people wanting to go green, people are looking towards electric bikes as a step in the right direction.

Electric bikes act as a two wheeler with a battery powered assist, combining old-fashioned pedaling with a battery powered motor. You don't need a license or registration, so long as you don't ride more than 20mph. Most models can ride for at least 20 miles before they need to be recharged.

Gluskin-Townley Group does market research for the national bike dealers association, and estimates 10,000 electric bikes were sold in the U.S. in 2007, up from 6,000 in 2006. "The electric bikes are the next big thing," says Frank Jamerson, a former GM corp exec turned electric vehicle guru.

Boston gas prices better than U.S. average

Sick of gas prices in Boston? We may be better off than the entire nation.

According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Boston drivers paid 8 cents less per gallon of gasoline compared to July's national average.

Boston drivers paid around $4.06 per gallon of gas in July, compared to the U.S. average of $4.14 per gallon.

Although Boston drivers are paying less this does not exclude the fact that Boston gas prices rose $1.07, or 35.8% in July 2007, and were up 8.2% over May 2008.

Read more at bizjournals.com

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Staples: Samsung CLP-315 laser printer $150 and free shipping

Circuit City: $50 off Creative Labs GigaWorks T20 stereo speakers

Target: Save 15% off bedroom, living room, patio, and other select furniture

Mountain Gear: Sabe extra $15 off apparel, gear and footwear

Consumer United: Sign up with our new home security service provider, Brinks, and get free installation on Brinks Home Security standard system. This is a $199 savings off their standard offer. Please say you're a Consumer United member and reference the promo code CCP# 28621. Click here to learn more.

It's a hard-knock life for schools nationwide

Hard times are following kids back to school this year.

High gas prices and economic anxiety is impacting school districts nationwide. Students will be walking farther to catch the school bus, paying more for lunch and using old textbooks.

Last year's clothes will be worn on the first day of school. And field trips? Probably not.

This year, schools have to cut down on all fronts due to rising costs. The high gas prices are affecting transportation. School Buses are making less stops, and car-pooling will increase. Cafeteria food, heating and air conditioning costs are on the rise causing school districts frustration and extreme budgeting.

In rural Minnesota, one school district has decided to cease classes on Mondays. Classes Tuesday through Friday will be 10 minutes longer, saving a lot of fuel.

Candice Jaenisch, whose two sons and daughter will be making the switch, says: "You're cutting expenses that really don't affect school." Some may say having Mondays off will increase other costs such as daycare. Luckily, in this small town, most parents are farmers or work out of their homes. "I really don't know that there are that many people with set hours Monday through Friday," Jaenisch adds.

Parents are cutting back on spending for back to school items. For back-to-school clothes, Heidi McLean shopped at outlets and the Marshalls discount chain for her son and daughter, high school students in Eureka, Calif. Others are hitting secondhand stores, and some are foregoing shopping all together.

Click here to read the Boston Globe article.

Apple yanks 'I Am Rich' iPhone app

The iPhone has quickly become a status symbol in today’s society and even though the price has dropped considerably in the past year, they're hardly a product for the average consumer.

Perhaps to poke a little fun at the spending habits of iPhone owners, the Los Angeles Times reports that Armin Heinrich, a German software developer, developed an application called “I Am Rich.”

The application costs $1,000 for iPhone owners to download to their devices. Unlike other handy apps such the scientific calculator, the level, or any number of flashlights which can be purchased for about $.99, the “I Am Rich” application has no function.

It merely displays a picture of a ruby on the screen, and, if you show your friends, proves that in fact you are rich. The New York Times reports that eight people have purchased the app, but that several have demanded a refund.

Heinrich, the software developer, has no problem with that.

“It’s OK to return the money. I did not want to harm anybody with my app,” he tells the New York Times.

He simply thought it would be funny to create one that was so expensive because some people complain when they have to pay for any kind of app. The shoppers who asked Apple for their money back probably didn’t see things in the same light as Armin Heinrich.

“I regard it as art. I did not expect many people to buy it and did not expect all the fuss about it,” he says.

Click here for the latest.

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Staples: Texas Instruments TI-84 plus calculator $70

Walmart: Madden NFL '09 for $59.74

Amazon: Save 40% on grocery outlet items

Overstock.com: 10% off memory foam

Consumer United: New customers who subscribe to FiOS TV between now and Saturday, Oct. 4 will receive their choice of a year's free use of either a high-definition (HD) digital video recorder (DVR) or an HD Home Media DVR.

Save gas money in the morning?

Do you pump gas in the morning to save money? You may consider sleeping in.

According to a Consumer Reports article, you won't save money by pumping gas early in the morning. The advice is to pump gas in the early morning before the heat of the day causes the oil to increase in volume. The early morning gasoline will be denser, meaning you'll get more energy per gallon than later in the day. As gasoline goes from 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit, it increases in volume by 1%, while the energy content remains the same.

The facts are true, but the advice is not. Gasoline is stored underground where the temperature variation is little or none at all throughout the day. Craig Eerkes, former chairman of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America talks of an expansion of gas with a change in the day's temperature. Eerkes calls the change, "Just so, so minuscule as to be almost nonexistent." The first few gallons at the pump may be slightly warmer than the gallons to follow, due to the gas sitting in the pump dispenser which was warmed by the sun. Aside from that, the time of day will not make a difference in the weight of your wallet.

Judy Dugan, Research Director for the California advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, says, "If fuel is warm when it’s delivered to a station, it’ll still be warm when it’s sold a few hours later." So the real advice? Go to the pump whenever you would like. The gasoline temperature will not increase with the afternoon sun.

CU Advocate's Back-To-School Deals

Apple: Back-to-school sale. Buy a Mac get 8a GB iPod touch or nano free

Dell Home: 20% to 30% off Inspiron notebook PCs

Adidas: 20% off back-to-school sale

Performance Bike: Back-to-school bonanza sale

Consumer United: New customers who subscribe to FiOS TV between now and Saturday, Oct. 4 will receive their choice of a year's free use of either a high-definition (HD) digital video recorder (DVR) or an HD Home Media DVR.

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Amazon.com: Save up to 45% on coffee and espresso machines

Dell: Save 20% or $250 off Inspiron Core desktop PCs

Netflix: $4.99 a month, no late fees, free trial

Sundance Teas: Free sample of Sundance Organic Life Tea

Consumer United: New customers who subscribe to FiOS TV between now and Saturday, Oct. 4 will receive their choice of a year's free use of either a high-definition (HD) digital video recorder (DVR) or an HD Home Media DVR.

Inside Consumer United :: Tavern On The Water

Consumer United advocates (L-to-R) Daniel Weaver, Ryan Clauson and Lana Petersson enjoy the breathtaking views of downtown Boston from the pier outside of Charlestown's Tavern on the Water.

Facebook dominates global online market

Facebook is the world's No. 1 social network--edging out MySpace, YouTube, Linkedin and Google's Orkut--according to figures released by comScore earlier this week.

The brainchild of Mark Zuckerberg, the San Francisco-based CEO who began Facebook in early 2004 as a Harvard-only SNS, has exploded as a global leader and platform for free expression.

The site has 132 million users with 63% outside North America. Facebook is translated into 20 different languages including French, Spanish and Mandarin and is extremely successful in terms of its ability translate content into so many languages. New members were up 153% in June when compared to the same month one year earlier.

While Facebook is a great way to reach out to old friends and connect overseas, there's an emerging backlash.

Most free Web sites offer a photo upload with an option to add a caption. End of story. Not on Facebook.

Here, users upload pictures, tag their name while adding their friend's name... even if their friend isn't a member of the online global network. People are learning that their personal information is ending up on Facebook without their approval or knowledge.

One may feel a "social connectedness" when networking on this site but some feel violated and confused. Facebook is encouraging users to share information that is, in essence, being used to send advertisements targeted to a specific demographic. This tactic is a serious red flag among many privacy advocates.

Click here for the lowdown. Also, go here to join Consumer United's Facebook group.

Consumer Woes :: Down the drain

Here's a rant from one of our members:

Why do technicians feel they can charge gobs of money for so little time? Recently, Maureen had her brother replace the innards of her toilet. Everything looked great and was working well.

A few days later Maureen noticed water leaking from the bottom of the toilet. Instead of bothering her brother again, she called a plumber located in Gardner, Mass. The plumber came, looked at the problem and tightened two screws under the toilet tank's bottom. The bill? $142.94.

Let's do the math. 5 minutes tightening the screws, 10 minutes writing out the ridiculous bill and a fuel surcharge of $15. When asked why the bill was so high, the plumber said he was charging a "diagnostic charge."

Maureen has emailed the company twice regarding the total rip off and has yet to hear from them.

Buy a Detroit home for a buck

You may think $1 won't get you very far but it just may buy you a house.

A home in Detroit was recently sold for $1 and it still took 19 days to find a buyer. In November 2006, the home sold for $65,000 and was the nicest house on the block. After the family moved due to a home foreclosure, the house was gutted by scrappers. These vandals took the lighting fixtures, copper plumbing, the furnace, and even the kitchen sink. Anything of value was gone.

At this point, the home was just a shell. The bank had to pay to find a buyer. $2,500 in sales commission, and another $1,000 bonus for closing the $1 sale. The bank will also have to pay $500 of the buyer's closing costs. "Dollar property sales are the financial hangover from the foreclosure crisis," said Anthony Viola of Realty Corp. of America in Cleveland. In the end it will cost the bank around $10,000 in order to sell the home for $1.

The buyer calls this purchase an investment. The buyer will have to pay $5,000 for a home demolition, and will owe $3,900 on 2009 property taxes unless the assessment is challenged. This shows how much trouble the real estate market is in, especially in one of America's poorest cities.

Check out the full article at Detroit News here.

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Gap: Save 25% or more off men's and women's jeans

MacConnection: $120 off and free Fusion on MacBooks

Amazon: Buy 3 books get the 4th free

WalMart: Free $30 gift card with 8GB iPod touch purchase

Consumer United: Sign up with our new home security service provider, Brinks, and get free installation on Brinks Home Security standard system. This is a $199 savings off their standard offer. Please say you're a Consumer United member and reference the promo code CCP# 28621. Click here to learn more.

Whole Foods sheds 'whole paycheck' label

Sales for generic brand groceries and other moderately priced goods are up as sales of just about everything else are trending downward.

That poses a problem for high-end retailers like Whole Foods who rely on customers willing to pay quite a bit more for the experience of shopping for their upscale goods at their stores.

Now that gourmet groceries are a luxury most shoppers are quickly cutting out of their budgets, Whole Foods must quickly reposition itself as a better value.

The New York Times reports stores are taking steps such as offering guided tours of good deals shoppers can find and displaying “weekly buys” fliers.

Andrew Wolf, an analyst for BB&T Capital Markets, tells the New York Times that Whole Foods was “a tale of two stores.” He says the grocery items in the middle of the store, dry goods such as cereal and pasta, are competitively priced.

The “outer items,” such as meat and produce, tend to be more expensive at Whole Foods, he said. That can be risky at a time when consumers are becoming increasingly price sensitive.

It’s becoming clear that this worsening economic environment is having an impact on consumers at all economic levels,” Mitchell P. Corwin, an analyst at Morningstar says. “The whole paycheck image can really hurt you.”

Whole Foods, however, does not want to risk losing a segment of its customer base to this image. Long an unconventional retailer, the company has decided to continue to pursue the value branding strategy. One part of the experience Whole Foods does not want to change is the high level of service customers have come to expect.

The next time you visit Whole Foods, ask a representative for a tour of the week’s best deals. You just might go home with a list of suggested recipes for tonight’s dinner.

Click here for the complete article.

--Bridget O'Sullivan

Tax-free weekend in Massachusetts

This year, a two-day summer sales tax holiday is in effect for Saturday, Aug. 16 to Sunday, Aug. 17 in Massachusetts.

The tax holiday will apply to items costing $2,500 or less. This is the fifth year in a row for the tax-exempt holiday. Supporters for the weekend are hoping it stimulates the economy a time of year that's normally slow.

Senate president Therese Murray tells the Associated Press: "“A sales-tax-free weekend will be welcomed more than ever in this tough economy, especially with the high prices of food and fuel. The relatively small sacrifice in state revenue is worthwhile when you consider the positive impact on consumer confidence and taxpayers’ wallets.”

The tax exemption doesn't apply to all sales of motor vehicles, motorboats, meals, telecommunications services, gas, steam, electricity, tobacco products and any single item whose price is over $2500.

Click here for more information.

CU Advocate's Deals of the Day

Payless: Back-to-school sale up to 40% off

Best Buy: Save up to $15 or more

Newegg.com: Sennheiser CX300S earbud headphones $30 shipped

Staples: Quickbooks 2008 Simple Start Edition $90 rebate

Consumer United: Sign up with our new home security service provider, Brinks, and get free installation on Brinks Home Security standard system. This is a $199 savings off their standard offer. Please say you're a Consumer United member and reference the promo code CCP# 28621. Click here to learn more.

Join Consumer United before fees kick in

We've experienced enormous growth in the past few months and, as of Sept. 1, 2008, Consumer United will start charging a $15 annual membership fee for those who sign up after Aug. 31, 2008.

However, members who join before Sept. 1, 2008 will NOT be charged the annual membership fee.

So, join our group here and your no-fee membership will be good as long as you remain within our viral-savings group.

Save on gas? Go naked

You jump in your car wearing socks, shoes, pants, a T-shirt and maybe even a sweater or a light jacket. What if you could save gas by eliminating all of these items?

Glenn Beck, a so-called "recovering alcoholic rodeo clown" and conservative national radio talk show host may have the most ingenious, yet simplistic, gas-saving solution out there.

Go naked.

"If people really loved America, they would strip down, leave their clothes at home and drive around buck naked," he jokes in his commentary on CNNPolitics.com.

The columnist continues, "That would decrease the weight of our cars, which would increase our gas mileage so dramatically that we probably wouldn't have to drill for any new oil!"

Check out his "Drive naked, save America" commentary here.

Independent gas stations go extra mile

As Americans try hard to cut down on the number of miles they log and more and more families are leaving their SUVs at home, gas station owners are forced to compete for every gallon they sell.

Some have tied to capitalize on the old-fashioned advantage of having the best service in town. Route 102 Gas in Londonderry, NH, an independent gas station, washes windows and checks the oil of their customers, all without charge.

Owners can decide what level of service they provide to the customers, but they often have little control of the price of their gas.

"Customers can complain all they want, but there's not much they can do," says Ralph Stowell, owner of a LukOil station, to the Eagle Tribune.

Just a few cents can be the deciding factor, the Eagle Tribune discovered after conducting an informal survey last week. In North Andover, Mass, the Gulf and Mobil stations posted prices four cents apart.

After nearly an hour, not a single car had stopped at Gulf, the station with the more expensive gas. "It's not like years ago," said William Burke to the Eagle Tribune. He has owned the Mobil station for more than thirty years. "It's a price-driven market."

Occasionally, though, customers are willing to pay the extra few cents to continue buying from their favorite stations.

Jay Pelletier of Chester, NH, arrived to fill up his motorcycle. He told the Eagle Tribune he has a "loyalty to Shell and its convenience to the highway."

That loyalty is a value that gas station owners are hoping to capitalize on. They can’t always lower prices so they have to find other ways to keep drivers coming back.

Click here for more information.

--Bridget O'Sullivan