Avoid these common home-heating mistakes

Closing vents in all of your unused rooms has potential to waste energy instead of saving it.

Who knew?

With the frigid winter months edging closer, it's important to prepare by cutting back on home-heating costs.

However, are you making major mistakes when it comes to combating Jack Frost? Armed with a renewed quest for energy efficiency, there are a few old-school misconceptions that may increase the monthly electric bill while leaving an Abominable Snowman-sized environmental footprint.

Here are a few common home-heating errors:

1. Maintaining a constant temperature while you're asleep or away at work may not be the most efficient way to keep the house warm. Instead, invest in a programmable thermostat. The device has potential to cut your heating bill by five to 15 percent depending on the climate.
2. While closing vents in unused rooms may seem like a no-brainer, it's wasting energy instead of saving it. Shutting off more than 10 percent of your home's vents will make the furnace run inefficiency by altering the air pressure in the system. Instead, seal your ducts to save energy.
3. Replacing drafty windows may seem like an obvious way to combat the cold, but it may not be an iron-clad solution. There's generally a hefty price tag attached to those costly pieces of glass and you may be shelling out more than saving by replacing them. Typically, more heat is lost in a home that's poorly insulated. However, if you do replace the windows, make sure they're installed properly to avoid drafts and leaks.
   

Click here for additional tips.

LED-fueled holiday lights go green

As more and more consumers are becoming familiar with the benefits of using LED bulbs, manufacturers are offering an increased selection of energy efficient holiday lights. Not only are they better for the environment, LED bulbs cost far less to operate than traditional holiday lights.

Even though the purchase price of LED holiday lights may be higher in some instances, they last five to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. In addition, the savings they provide on energy bills is substantial.

The average string of lights contains about 300 bulbs, and to power a string of incandescent bulbs for six weeks would cost between $70 and $71. A string of LED bulbs that size, on the other hand, would cost less than a dollar to power.

"That means you save $70 a season if you switch out 300 incandescent lights to LED lights," Joe Molica, a spokesman for Pacific Gas and Electric, says to the San Francisco Gate. "It's a pretty dramatic savings, and it reduces your carbon footprint."

Many homes and businesses use far more than one string of lights, so the savings can add up quickly. LED bulbs also have the added advantage of producing far less heat than incandescent light bulbs, so the risk of fire is lower. Let this year be the year you switch to the lights that are cleaner, safer and less expensive to run.

Tips to save during the holiday season

With many retailers hoping to keep their sales figures high, there are lots of opportunities for shoppers to stretch their holiday budgets this year.

One of the best ways to get a deal is to do plenty of comparison shopping online. Many brick and mortar stores, especially large electronic and clothing stores, offer much of their merchandise online. Shoppers can save money on gas and shipping if they wait for the store to offer free shipping on online purchases, as well.

For example, Best Buy is offering free shipping on thousands of online items here.

Another benefit of shopping online is the ability to use coupon codes to save even more. There are Web sites dedicated exclusively to offering coupon codes, and some sites send them out to customers who have made purchases in the past. Some stores will even accept their competitors’ coupons for similar items.

For shoppers that plan on making a lot of their purchases in one location, a small investment in that store’s rewards card could lead to a big payoff. The Borders rewards plus card, for example, offers an additional 10 percent savings on purchases to members. Starbucks and many other well known specialty retailers also offer membership discounts. The memberships themselves make great gift ideas to help pass the savings along.

This year in particular, retailers are putting merchandise on sale and keeping those sales going up until the winter holidays.

Also, check out collective bargaining sites like Groupon which offers unique gift ideas here on the cheap. Click here for the lowdown.

Weekly Deals: Tryptophan-induced coma

Deal Of The Week:
Restaurant.com: Take 80% off $25 gift certificates from Restaurant.com with Consumer United's special code GOBBLE through Thursday, Nov. 25 here.

Other Weekly Deals:
Wireless: Get up to $60 bill credit on two smart phone devices from Consumer United Wireless here.

Hotels.com: Looking for a holiday getaway? You're in luck. As a Consumer United member, you qualify for a site-wide 5 percent discount by using coupon code HOTELS2010 at checkout until Nov. 31 here. Must travel before Feb. 1, 2011.

Best Buy: Snag a free $100 gift card from Best Buy with the purchase of an Apple 13.3” MacBook here until Saturday, Nov. 27.

Inside Consumer United :: Krishna Ramachandran

Since January 2010, Krishna Ramachandran has been working hard as a Consumer United advocate in our insurance division. Born and raised in Hamilton, NJ, Ramachandran graduated from the University of Richmond in 2008 with a degree in Leadership Studies.

Ramachandran began his journey at Consumer United in our New Jersey insurance department, helping consumers in his home state to save money on their auto insurance. Currently, he's working to make sure our Texas-based members get the best deal on both home and auto insurance.

When asked about what he enjoys most about his job so far, Ramachandran was quick to mention the company's young and energetic culture. “I like the people I work with. Its great working with other young people who like to have fun during and after work,” he says.

What is Ramachandran's favorite way to save money? “I put a specific amount of money into my savings account each month as soon as I get paid so I will not be tempted to spend it on anything else,” he adds.

As far as financial advice, Ramachandran emphasizes the importance of being a well-educated shopper. “Always be an informed consumer and search for the best deal on any major purchases” he remarks.

When Ramachandran is not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his friends, listening to music, and jamming out on the drums. “I've played the drums for 15 years and love playing and listening to music” he ads. Before moving to Boston and joining Consumer United, Ramachandran was the drummer for Dr. Thunder, arguably one of the greatest alternative rock bands to ever come out of New Jersey.

Safety advice for online holiday shopping

As the much-hyped Cyber Monday approaches, a recent poll suggests that Americans are growing wary of shopping online because of safety concerns.

According to a survey conducted by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), approximately 64 percent of respondents say they have not made an online purchase from a specific Web site because of safety concerns.

“The Internet is a fabulous, convenient resource for gift givers to get a jump start on their holiday shopping and bargain hunting, but people need to stay aware and alert about the risks," says NCSA Executive Director Michael Kaiser. "If there is any doubt about the security or authenticity of a Web site, hold off making the purchase."

However, consumers say they are more likely to buy online if “they see signs that a Web site is secure, have a clear understanding of how information collected about them is going to be used, and only information necessary to the transaction is being collected.

Here a few tips from the NCSA to stay safe while buying gifts online:

1. Keep a clean machine: Check to make sure that all software, especially security, Web browsers and operating systems, are up to date and set to update automatically.

2. Protect your personal information: When opening new accounts, use long and strong passwords. Only provide the minimal amount of information needed to complete a transaction. When providing personal information for any purchase or other reason, ensure that you know who is asking for the information and why they need it.

3. Connect with care: When shopping, check to be sure a Web site is security enabled. Look for web addresses with "https://" or "shttp://," which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information during financial transactions. Be wary of holiday shopping efforts to lure you. Cyber crooks will adjust to the holiday season, trying to get you to click through to deals that may appear to good to be true. They may also try to trick you by sending emails that something has gone wrong with an online purchase.

4. Be Web wise: Research sellers before a first time purchase from a merchant (or auction seller) new to you. Search to see how others have rated them, and check their reviews. Do these things even if you are a return customer, as reputations can change.

Click here for the lowdown.

How to make the fireplace more efficient

Don't want to freeze your buns off this winter but want to save money? You may want to look into buying a high efficiency wood stove, fireplace or fireplace insert.

In fact, U.S. homeowners can get a 30 percent tax credit of up to $1,500 for purchasing a qualifying heating systems, which also includes pellet stoves and inserts, before Dec. 31, 2010.

Many people have discovered the benefits to heating all or part of their home with wood, particularly if they have access to free or inexpensive cord wood. "Financial benefits are derived for years to come with significantly reduced heating costs," says Karen Smeltz, brand manager for Hearth & Home Technologies, maker of Quadra-Fire and Harman stoves. "Burning wood in a high efficiency stove also has environmental benefits. In addition to producing low air particulate matter, it is considered carbon neutral since the same amount of carbon is released into the air when burnt as during the growing and decomposition process in the forest."

However, old-school fireplaces can be one of the more inefficient heating systems around. According to the EPA, a lot of the warm air is lost in the chimney with only 10 to 20 percent actually coming from traditional wood logs.

An eco-friendly alternative? Try artificial products like java logs made from coffee grounds, vegetable paraffin and petroleum-based binders. Also, make sure the fireplace is updated with the latest heat-retaining features including blowers, intake tubes, radiant grates and inserts.

Most important, close the flue damper when the fireplace isn't in use. This will save you an estimated $190 a year, and 1650 pounds of CO2.

Weekly Deals: Plan your holiday getaway

Deal Of The Week:
Hotels.com: Looking for a holiday getaway? You're in luck. As a Consumer United member, you qualify for a site-wide 5 percent discount by using coupon code HOTELS2010 at checkout until Nov. 31 here. Must travel before Feb. 1, 2011.

Other Weekly Deals:
Best Buy: Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 16, free shipping on hundreds of thousands of item using this link here.

Restaurant.com: Take 70% off $25 gift certificates from Restaurant.com with Consumer United's special code THANKS through Wednesday, Nov. 18 here.

Peapod: First time shoppers with partner, Peapod, will instantly save $10 on their online grocery order. Click on the promotional link here to start saving.

Angie's List: Find reviews on the services you need at Angie’s List – from electrician to physician- use promo code “SAVETEN” for $10 off here.

GiftCards.com: Save up to 25 percent at your favorite retailers here.

Frequent the big screen without the big price

With Thanksgiving approaching, holiday movie season is in high gear and many flock to the local cinema to recover from that Tryptophan-induced coma and catch the latest Oscar contender or big-screen bio-pic.

But is it affordable?

With the average adult ticket costing around $10, folks shell out major cash for a family night out. However, you can catch a flick on the big screen without the big price ... and snag one of those mega tubs of popcorn while you're at it.

Here are a few tips:

Be loyal
Join a loyalty club at a theater near you. This is an easy way to snag discounted tickets. For example, AMC Theaters' AMC MovieWatcher Rewards offers free small popcorn each week. Loyalty clubs allow you to accumulate points from purchases made. Once you have enough points, you earn a free movie ticket.

Go at "off" times

Off hours are less expensive than peak hours. In San Francisco, Cinemark charges an extra 50 cents per ticket on Friday and Saturday night. Go during the day or right after work... then go out for dinner and drinks.

Buy in bulk

Is going to the movie theater becoming a weekly habit? Buy your tickets in bulk. At AMC theaters, you can buy your tickets in increments of 50. The price, between $6 and $7.50 a ticket.

Clip coupons

Always be on the hunt for coupons. You can find these in your local entertainment book. Special promotions happen too. Marriott is offering four free movie passes when you spend a weekend at a participating hotel or resort before Sept. 7.

Dig for discounts
Check with your local theater for the discounts they offer. There is usually a student discount, as well as a senior discount. Don't forget to bring your student ID card!

GiftCards.com Deal: Take 15% off AMC Theaters gift cards here.

Tips to stay in the black during Black Friday

The folks over at CouponShack.com, a coupon savings site similar to Tgiblackfriday.com and FatWallet.com, offer a few tips to help consumers make the most out of the upcoming Black Friday shopping weekend.

"The best advice I have for consumers this holiday season is the early bird catches the worm so plan ahead on your holiday shopping," says Sok Verdery, CEO of CouponShack.com.

Here are the tips:

1. Get a notebook and make a list the week before of everyone you have to shop for. Jot down some ideas and set a budget for each person. Create a plan and don't deviate from the plan.
2. Price compare the Black Friday prices with online prices by using CouponShack.com's coupon price comparison search engine.
3. Shop for the deal and avoid the add-ons. Some retailers will entice you into the deal and charge you more for the accessories.
4. Don't buy the extended warranty. It's usually not worth the extra cost and many credit card companies like American Express provide warranties on purchase made with their credit card.
5. Mark the items of interest and bring the Black Friday ads with you. This keeps you focused and allows you to comparison shop.
6. Bring cash. Shoppers who pay for purchases with cash are estimated to save about 20% versus using a credit card. If you are disciplined, then this does not matter as much.
7. Check the store for price-matching policies. If they offer price match, bring the ad or printout with you.
8. Check the store's return policy. That way, if you find it cheaper elsewhere, you can return it and purchase from the cheaper store.
9. If the store drops the price of the item at a later date, find out if the store will honor the new lower price.
10. Once you have decided which stores you will purchase from on Black Friday, check out sites like CouponShack.com, TgiBlackFriday.com and FatWallet.com for printable coupons to take with you.

Click here for the lowdown.

Brain training reduces auto accidents in elderly

How can we make older drivers safer on the road? A new study contends that brain-training exercises may be the answer.

Older people accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities and 18 percent of all pedestrian deaths, according to a 2008 traffic safety report released by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

The study, documented in the November 2010 edition of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, follows 908 drivers over a six-year period with the average age of 73. Those studied were assigned a slew of brain-training exercises using the InSight program.

Participants who underwent the “speed-of-processing” course had fewer at-fault accidents that were 50 percent lower compared to the control group, the study suggest.

"Considering the importance of driving mobility and the cost of crashes, cognitive training has great potential to sustain independence and quality of life in older adults," says paper co-author Jerri Edwards, associate professor of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida. "But importantly, this study provides further evidence that the right kind of brain training program can generalize to improve real-world activities among older adults."

Want more information regarding auto insurance for high-risk groups? Contact one of our licensed insurance reps at Consumer United here.

Weekly Deals: Save $10 on groceries

Deal Of The Week:
Peapod: First time shoppers with partner, Peapod, will instantly save $10 on their online grocery order. Click on the promotional link here to start saving.

Other Weekly Deals:
Angie's List: Find reviews on the services you need at Angie’s List – from electrician to physician- use promo code “SAVETEN” for $10 off here.

GiftCards.com: Save up to 25 percent at your favorite retailers here.

Restaurant.com: Take 80% off $25 gift certificates from Restaurant.com with Consumer United's special code GIVE through Monday, Nov. 15 here.

Hotels.com: Looking for a pre-holiday getaway? You're in luck. As a Consumer United member, you qualify to get at $20 gift card if you book with Hotels.com until Nov. 02 here.

Inside Consumer United :: Laura Odenthal

Laura Odenthal currently works full-time as a Consumer United advocate, helping our members in New Jersey save money on their auto insurance. Originally from Long Island, NY, Odenthal graduated from UMass Amherst where she majored in journalism.

Since joining the Consumer United team back in September 2009, Odenthal watched both our staff and membership base grow tremendously and has made many friends in the process. When asked what she has enjoyed most about her time here so far, Odenthal responds: “I enjoy the long lasting friendships I have made at Consumer United and the dynamics of working with creative, young people.”

As for financial advice, Odenthal admits that spending “has always burned a hole in my pocket," but she stresses the importance of saving. “I have learned that it is important to put some money away in my savings for a rainy day or in case of emergency” she adds.

To save more money, Odenthal recommends packing a lunch each day. “The way I have learned to save money is by trying to bring a lunch every day. Its amazing how much money you can save per week just by stocking your fridge with groceries.”

When she's not here making sure our members are getting the best deal on auto insurance, Odenthal tries to stay active and enjoys the outdoors. “In my free time, I enjoy heading to the beach, taking vacations, attending music festivals, hiking, and strolling through the streets Boston” she says.

How much food does your family waste?

Grocery shopping only a minor expense? Think again.

The average American family of four spends $9,200 a year on food, rounded to $10,000 when paper goods and personal-care products are added to the mix.

How much of that food ends up in the trash? According to a study conducted in Tompkins County, N.Y., it's around 40 percent. In a similar study by Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab, a whopping 93 percent of those surveyed admitted that they buy foods they never use.

A new book called "American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of its Food" by Jonathan Bloom, there are several ways to curb food waste.

First, it's important to combat refrigerator clutter. The average family of four squanders more than $40 worth of food each week. Take inventory of the ice box and try not to purchase food, especially fresh vegetables and fruits, that you don't eat. Bloom suggests that shoppers should make a detailed food list and to plan out their meals before heading to the grocery store.

Second, pay attention to the fridge's temperature. The average unit should be 37 degrees Fahrenheit with the freezer set at zero. Also, keep veggies in crisper drawers armed with humidity controls.

Finally, invest in produce containers with top vents and bottom strainers. This will help keep the produce longer. Also, food dehydrators can stretch your food-budget dollar to the end of the year, according to this story by Consumer United Advocate.

Click here to learn more about Bloom's "American Wasteland."

Consumers loosening their holiday purse strings

Ready to shop to 'til you drop? You're not alone. A recent report predicts that consumers are slightly loosening their holiday purse strings, but the ongoing economic tumult is inspiring frugal-minded shoppers to search for a bigger bang for their buck.

While the forecast is improving, a Consumer Reports holiday shopping poll predicts that one in three American shoppers plan to spend less this holiday season, down more than 40 percent compared to 2008.

However, it doesn't mean that stores will be barren. In fact, shoppers estimated they spent an average of $811 in 2009--more than 15 percent than they had initially planned.

In other words, making a budget and sticking to it are two completely different things.

"Consumers are optimistic, but they don't necessarily believe that happy days are here again. Credit is tight, unemployment remains high, the value of their homes has dropped and many Americans are facing the prospect of higher taxes of all levels," says Tod Marks, Consumer Reports senior editor. "So while it's a bit surprising that some plan to spend somewhat more than last year, the fact is they're insisting on value, value, value."

Also, shoppers plan to pay with cold, hard cash.

According to the Consumer Reports poll, a majority of those polled say they will pay using cash for holiday gifts and about four in 10 will cut back on credit and debit card spending.

Click here for the report.

Weekly Deals: Pre-Turkey Day rush

Deal Of The Week:
Restaurant.com: Take 70% off $25 gift certificates from Restaurant.com with Consumer United's special code MEAL through Monday, Nov. 8 here. Also, buy five Restaurant.com gift cards and get one free until Nov. 8 here.

Other Weekly Deals:
Best Buy: You'll find great camera deals that really “click” at Best Buy this week. They're offering 5% - 20% off select digital cameras, plus free shipping here until Saturday, Nov. 6.

Hotels.com: Looking for a pre-holiday getaway? You're in luck. As a Consumer United member, you qualify to get at $20 gift card if you book with Hotels.com until Nov. 02 here.

GiftCards.com: Take 15% off AMC Theaters gift cards here.

Heat your home on the cheap this winter

It's getting chilly outside. Is your home ready for the frigid winter months? With energy costs at an all-time high, savings can be accumulated by making simple upgrades to your residence ... some with little to no cost.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, reducing drafts in your home can lower your energy costs from 5 to 30 percent.

We've compiled the ways you can save this winter from Consumer Reports:

Upgrade insulation
Insulation is important in order to keep the cost of heating your home down. Bob Markovich, home and yard editor of Consumer Reports writes, "According to our recent nationally representative survey, of more than 2,000 Americans, only 12 percent added or upgraded their home's insulation in the past three years and just five percent had insulated their heating and cooling duct work -- quick fixes that save you money for years to come."

So what should you do? Fix your insulation! If it's not time for new insulation, seal the cracks and duct work. This is a simple task that can save you big. Spend $500 once, and save $400 a year.

Buy a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat can save you 20 percent off your heating costs. This thermostat lowers the heat by five to 10 degrees during the day when no one is home.

Fix the drips in your faucet
A leaky faucet is guaranteed to cost you more money than you thought on your water bill. A Consumer Reports article states "Almost four in five states anticipate water shortages by 2013, which could lead to steeper rates and penalties for excessive water use." Stopping the leak is the easiest way to save $70 per household a year.

Buy energy-saving bulbs
Purchase a compact fluorescent bulb to save money on your electricity. Consumer Reports recommends a variety of CFLs that range in price from $6 for a four-pack to $13 for a two-pack. Each life of a CFL bulb will save you $56. Again, a CFL bulb is worth the investment.