Shopping

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When the weather's clear, yard sales and garage sales spring up around most neighborhoods like weeds. Bargain hunters and fans of reusing and recycling know that these sales are great places to shop for kids' clothes, furniture that can be repainted or restyled, paperback books, and even collectibles which may be diamonds in the rough.

But you have to shop savvy to get the most out of yard sales. They're not as predictable as the mall, so you need to plan ahead.

Start by searching Craigslist.org, newspaper classifieds, and signs around town to find the sales. Then map an efficient route for the places you want to visit.

These tips can help you find bargains on things you can really use...

 

Prepare for a day of shopping:

• Be prepared by bringing: cash in small denominations, a tape measure to get the right sizes of clothing and home decor items, and batteries to test gadgets.


• Don't drive a really fancy car or wear designer clothes or expensive jewelry when you go to these sales. It's harder to bargain if you look like you're made of money.


• You can find the best selection right when a sale opens, so go early. But if you see something and can't get the price you want, ask when the sale is ending and come back later. If the item is still around, you might get a lower price then.


• Stay cool and comfortable by wearing a hat and sunscreen and bringing a refillable bottle with water, plus snacks for the day.


• Looking for children's clothes, toys, or electronics? Head to newer neighborhoods because the more recent residents there tend to buy (and thus throw out) newer things.


• Looking for antiques, collectibles, or furniture? Head to older neighborhoods because the longer-term residents are usually cleaning out attics and basements of older things.

 

What to buy and not buy:

• Avoid buying baby or toddler equipment like car seats, cribs, playpens, and safety gates as models may get recalled and safety requirements change. And carefully inspect toys for small children to make sure there are no loose or broken parts.


• Don't buy used helmets of any kind (you never know if they were in an accident!), and inspect used sporting equipment thoroughly.


• Always look inside boxes and cases. DVDs and CDs can easily get mixed up, and games may be missing pieces.


• Know brand names and genuine values. Brands made for Wal-Mart and Target (especially clothing) aren't great deals second-hand because the items won't have much life left in them. But high-end labels and designer goods can last for years more. Also, if you are a collector, know the value of your favorite items so you can spot a real deal.

 

Bargain like a pro:

• Start by complimenting the item, no matter how beat-up it is. Never talk down what you're trying to buy - the seller may have bought and loved that thing at one time.


• Don't go too low. If an item is marked $20, don't offer $5. Try $15 or maybe $10 if the original price seems wildly inaccurate.


• Ask if you can combine purchases for a better price. For example, if you want a $5 item and a $7 item, ask if the seller will take $10 for both. Or if you're buying a large number of items, ask if the seller will throw in another small item for free.


• Know what you'll do if your offer is rejected. Will you walk away or pay the full price? Plan ahead, and stick with your plan.

 

These tips should help you shop savvy at yard sales and garage sales around town. Have more suggestions? Post them in the comments. Or share your favorite deals from sales you've been to.

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Looking for a sunscreen that effectively protects your skin from the sun and doesn't contain harmful chemicals? It's not easy to find one, according to Environmental Working Group's (EWG) newly released 2010 sunscreen guide.

The research and advocacy group recommends only 39 (eight percent) of the 500 beach and sport sunscreens it assessed. Why? EWG says many sunscreens do not adequately protect your skin from both UVA (which causes premature aging, skin cancer, and other skin damage) and UVB (which causes sunburn) rays. Plus, several products contain questionable chemicals.

Unfortunately, some of the healthiest sunscreens on the store shelves can be expensive so it's worth it to shop around for deals. Below are the most affordable products that earned the EWG stamp of approval (calculated based on price per ounce):

• Purple Prairie Botanicals, SunStuff, SPF 30 or SPF 15
• All Terrain, Aquasport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30
• All Terrain, KidSport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30
• All Terrain, TerraSport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30
• Carribean Solutions, Kid Kare, SPF 25, Caribbean Solutions, Biodegradable Sunscreen, SPF 25
• Desert Essence, Age Reversal Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30
• Episencial, Sunny Sunscreen, SPF 35
• Estion, Sunscreen with Zinc, SPF 38
• Jason Natural Cosmetics, Earth's Best: Sunblock Mineral Based, SPF 30+
• Jason Natural Cosmetics, Sunbrellas: Chemical-Free Sunblock, SPF 30+
• Jason Natural Cosmetics, Sunbrellas: Mineral-Based Physical Sunblock, SPF 30+
• Vanicream, Sunscreen Sport, SPF 35

The easiest way to find sunscreens that are safe and effective is to use EWG's database, which has ratings on over 1,400 products from lotions and sprays to lip balms, moisturizers, and makeup with sun protection.

Here are some shopping tips for those who prefer to do their own homework:

• Higher SPF (sun protection factor) products are not necessarily best. In fact, the FDA says these numbers can be misleading. It is important to remember that the SPF is based solely on UVB protection so that indicates protection against sunburn-causing rays, but has nothing to do with skin-damaging (UVA) rays. There's concern that high SPF products may give people a false sense of security and encourage people to stay out in the sun for too long without reapplying sunscreen. EWG recommends sticking to SPF 15 to 50-plus.


• Look for sunscreens with zinc, titanium dioxide, avobenzene, or Mexoryl SX for the best UVA protection available in the U.S.


• EWG recommends avoiding oxybenzone and vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) because of potential health concerns.


• Choose lotions over sprays and powders, which fill the air with tiny chemicals that may not be safe to breathe in.


• Avoid sunscreens that have added insect repellants. You're supposed to apply sunscreen liberally and often because chemicals wash off and break down in the sun. In fact, many people do not use enough sunscreen to get adequate protection. Use one ounce (enough to fill a shot glass) and reapply at least every two hours. Insect repellants, on the other hand, should be used sparingly.

Do not rely solely on sunscreen for sun protection. EWG points out that there is "no consensus that sunscreen use alone prevents skin cancer." It should be used as one part of your strategy.

What else should you do? Limit your time outside in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are most intense and spend as much time in the shade as you can. Cover up with tightly woven clothing (you can even buy sun-protective apparel), a hat, and sunglasses.

It's also important to remember that getting some sun has health benefits. Sunshine is your body's main source of vitamin D, an essential nutrient that many of us don't get enough of. Sunscreen can inhibit your body's ability to produce vitamin D. Talk to your doctor about testing your levels and about how to get more if you need it.

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.

Check out Yahoo! Green on Twitter and Facebook.

The latest toxic toy recall is a now-familiar one: cadmium in children's jewelry, this time "Best Friends Forever" charm bracelets made in China and sold at Claire's stores.

In January, the Consumer Product Safety Commission's chairwoman took an unusual step and warned parents against buying an entire category of product: Cheap children's jewelry. Why? Levels of lead and cadmium, both of which are neurotoxins that can cause permanent brain damage if young children are exposed, are high in so many cheap jewelry sets on the market.

Lead has been the only metal to prompt recalls of children's jewelry in the past several years, since 4-year-old Jarnell Brown swallowed a metal charm that was nearly 100% lead, and died in March 2006. Since 2004, 180 million pieces of kid's jewelry have been recalled because of high lead levels, and since 2009, regulations on lead content in children's jewelry have been made stricter.

But, following an Associated Press investigation, consumer advocates are warning that cadmium – which in some cases has been used as a replacement for lead – is the newest threat hidden in gumball machine dispensers and dollar stores. Since the report, several chains, including Walmart, have pulled children's jewelry made in China because of high cadmium levels, and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has called for a ban on the use of cadmium in children's jewelry. However, it took the CPSC nearly five months to act on the AP tests, which identified the Claire's children's jewelry as a concern, since they are made with as much as 90% cadmium.

CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum warned manufacturers against using cadmium in January, while speaking in Hong Kong, but she had a more direct warning for parents:

"Because of these recent developments, I have a message for parents, grandparents and caregivers: Do not allow young children to be given or to play with cheap metal jewelry, especially when they are unsupervised," she wrote. "We have proof that lead in children's jewelry is dangerous and was pervasive in the marketplace. To prevent young children from possibly being exposed to lead, cadmium or any other hazardous heavy metal, take the jewelry away.... The key message that I want parents to know is: We will act to protect young children, but take the metal jewelry away from children who will swallow, suck or chew on it while our work continues."

She added: "It is very difficult for a parent to determine if an item contains harmful levels of a metal in a specific item except by checking recalls listed on the CPSC Website. Parents should know that swallowing, sucking on or chewing a metal charm or necklace could result in exposure to lead, cadmium or other heavy metals, which are known to be toxic at certain levels of exposure."

In May, the CPSC expanded its crackdown on toxic cadmium by investigating imports at ports. Several states are cracking down, too.

The Daily Green reports on all toxic toys recalled because of lead, cadmium or other toxic hazards. We've also put together a feature highlighting the latest children's jewelry recalls.

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

 

The disastrous Gulf oil spill continues to threaten ocean life and menace coastal communities, who are scrambling to brace for its as-yet unknown impact. The epic tragedy is also getting a lot of folks talking, from Obama on down through the ranks of politicians, in corporate boardrooms from Houston to New York, and all over the Internet.

Will the spill hurt fishermen, seafood lovers, and wildlife? Should we allow more offshore oil drilling? Are companies, the feds, or both to blame? Should we switch faster to electric cars or other alternative fuels?

While it certainly hasn't been easy for us as a society to get off our "addiction to oil," to borrow a phrase from the previous president, the Gulf Spill is shining a light on energy use. It's worthwhile remembering that oil goes in much more than just our gas tanks - though two-thirds of oil is used for transportation. Oil is also used in thousands of products we use every day.

But before that, as these figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and energyquest.ca.gov show, a surprisingly small percentage of each barrel of crude ends up in products; most is used for fuel. From that relatively small sliver comes plastics, textiles, medical devices and thousands of other items. And making the products listed below consumes more than 1 million barrels of oil per day, according to Energy Information Administration estimates.

By the way, if you are wondering what happened to diesel in the second picture, it is included in "distillate fuel oil."

Products made from oil

See more things made from oil.

• BP's Gulf Oil SPill: How to Help, How to Volunteer
• 8 Alternative Fuels That Could Replace Oil
• The 13 Most Endangered Sea Creatures
• 19 Of the Greatest Ocean Heroes of All Time
• 9 Simple Ocean Conservation Tips

 

Martha Stewart’s Timeless Style

These days, there’s no shortage of reasons to stay within our budget. Shopping for clothes can be exhausting and expensive, rummaging through rack after rack only to be enticed to buy more and spend more.

In our consumer-driven society, we are encouraged to “stay current” and adopt the latest “look,” which may be all the rage for one or two seasons. This kind of fashion phobia can lead to fashion fatigue, with garments relegated to a kind of closeted purgatory and eventually adding to our overflowing landfills.  What can we do?

Recycle

• Most everyone has a backlog of clothing that, for one reason or another, is just not right anymore. Roundup all usable clothing that you haven’t worn in a year or more. Collect, bag and donate to your local Freecycle, Salvation Army or Women’s Shelter.

Avoid Elevator Sizes

• Choose a body weight that is easy to maintain, yet projects the best that you can be.  Your budget and your body will be healthier and your closet will no longer be stuffed with several escalating sizes.

• iPhone has a free app called “Lose It!,” which configures custom calorie plans based on height and weight goal. Enter your daily exercise and foods and it displays total calories remaining for the day.  If you don’t have an iPhone, the FDA Calorie Calculator can help determine your daily calorie total for weight maintenance.   You can also try the Healthy Body Calculator for weight loss, weight gain and maintenance. Say hello to a slimmer and more consistent body, more restful sleep and stabile health.

Discover your personal style and stick with it

• If you travel often you may want to choose black as your wardrobe’s basic theme so everything goes together, can be worn more than once and therefore fits into one carry on suitcase. Gray and camel offer a rich accent in sweaters, shawls or jackets.  Fill in with some crisp white shirts.  Each season buy a pair of jeans that are on-trend as an affordable way to keep your wardrobe current.  Other than one pair of the latest cut of black pants, a hip hat and one pair of black, on-trend heels and/or flats, don’t bow to the urge to purchase other overly trendy items.

Advance Planning

• Shopping with a short list of items that you need to fill in your wardrobe is more eco and budget friendly than impulsive purchases. Rely on style instead of trend and consider a professional tailor to make your clothing fit and flatter your frame.  A classic pencil skirt is a silhouette that always looks good, whereas last year’s trendy skirt most likely soon won’t.  A cashmere sweater and jeans has become a classic look for men. One piece of real jewelry or a good watch worn every day trumps a drawer full of costume jewelry.

Simply Stylish

• Resist the urge to buy patterned clothing or shoes.  Solids are the perfect backdrop to your face and hair and are simply a better look that will defy becoming “dated.” I have always admired Martha Stewart.  I have followed her since her breakout book “Entertaining” was published in 1984 and enjoyed meeting her in 1997. During a time when loud, patterned and very bright fashions were the rage, Martha Stewart was a beacon of simplicity in her tasteful solids and her style has remained constant and powerful in the decades since.

Sherry Brooks is a healthy, happy and trim “Frugalista” living the lean and green life near Malibu in sunny southern California.

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(Photo: Getty Images)

Earth Day is turning 40 this year. To celebrate, many businesses are offering consumers free stuff, chances to win valuable prizes, and some good deals.

Here's a sampling of Earth Day freebies:

• Gain free admission into all 392 U.S. national parks now through Sunday, April 25.


• Trade in six plastic bottles or soda cans for a free hat made from recycled bottles at the Disney Store on April 22.


• Babies R Us will give you a free reusable tote bag if you bring a valid coupon (PDF) into its stores through April 22. Plus, you'll get a 25% discount off all the clothing and shoes you can fit into the bag.


• Evos is giving away free organic milkshakes served in biodegradable cups on Earth Day. The healthy fast-food chain has locations in California, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.


• Origins is offering a trade-in program on Earth Day only. Bring one of your current skin-care product bottles - empty or full, from any brand - to an Origins counter and receive a free full-size cleanser. Choose from Checks and Balances Frothy face wash or Perfect World antioxidant cleanser with white tea.


• Get a chance to win a $20,000 green home makeover by registering on the Purex website by April 30.


• Enter a sweepstakes to win 1 of 10 smart fortwo vehicles by making a pledge to help protect the environment on Safeway's website through April 27.


• Sign up for the Drive Home Green sweepstakes on Target's website through the end of the month. The grand prize is a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. You could also win bicycles, electric scooters, a national park trip, and other prizes.


• Add a green pledge to the Sierra Club's Earth Day map for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii.

 

There are also plenty of opportunities for Earth Day discounts. Here are few:

• Travelocity is offering up to 40% off prices at 40 green hotels across the globe.


• Travelzoo is giving discounts on U.S.-based, LEED-certified hotels.


• Walgreens will refill your printer cartridge for $1 instead of its usual $12 on April 22 only. It's also offering a 22 percent discount on its green products through April 30.


• Amazon is offering up to 34% off some of its Earth Day reads.


• Drugstore.com is offering up to 40% off products from its "green and natural" store through April 23.


• Numi Organic Teas is giving a 20% discount on April 22 - just enter Eday40 at checkout.

 

Search for more Earth Day discounts, freebies, and deals. Have you heard of other great Earth Day offers? If so, please share them in the comments below.

Check out Yahoo! Green on Twitter and Facebook.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Don't you hate it when something breaks just after the warranty runs out? Or what about that new electronic gadget that fails to work with your old accessories from the same manufacturer?

Some of these infuriating problems were caused on purpose, by product designers practicing "planned obsolescence." Planned obsolescence occurs when something is intended to wear out or stop being useful after a predetermined period of time - and that time is often as short as a few years.

Critics have long complained that planned obsolescence wastes consumers' money, uses up valuable resources, and chokes our landfills. 

The good news is that consumers are not entirely at the mercy of corporations. Armed with some information and foresight you can extend the life of some products or avoid buying them entirely. Here are  strategies for dealing with some of the most irritating sources of planned obsolescence. 

MP3 Players

Planned obsolescence is a fact of life when it comes to consumer electronices. MP3 players are a glaring example. These units are rarely upgradable with more memory and their lithium-ion batteries often wear out before the product does.  

In the worst case, such as with Apple iPods, the battery can't be removed easily by consumers, forcing an expensive service request when it runs out. These advanced batteries are often expensive ($75 or more in the case of laptops, but still pricey for smaller devices), so extending the life is no trifling matter.

Luckily, there are a number of good quality "generic" batteries on the market for many devices. You can easily find them on eBay and elsewhere. These typically are not recommended by manufacturers, but problems are rare. It also isn't that difficult to replace the battery in your iPod, and directions and how-to videos are online.

Finally, you can often prolong the life of your device by taking good care of it. Keep it out of temperature extremes, keep it clean and follow the charging/use patterns recommended by your manufacturer. In many cases, lithium-ion batteries do better if they are not run all the way down.

Ink Cartridges

A set of new inkjet cartridges can cost more than the printer itself...yet you may be prevented from using every expensive drop of pigment. Many ink cartridges come with proprietary smart chips on them that disable printing when one of the colors falls to a certain level, even if there's really enough ink to do the job. Plus, the smart chips can discourage refilling or use of third-party ink.

 

Software

In software, as with some video game hardware, many titles are incompatible with previous files or programs. This definitely gives consumers incentive to upgrade across the board. Many users are also forced to upgrade to new editions after publishers stop providing support to older versions.

Instead of proprietary software, use open source titles, which are usually free for typical users, including upgrades. You also may be able to save money by using general titles instead of specialized ones that only do one thing, since you are less likely to get trapped into expensive service or upgrades later. For example, use Microsoft Excel or Google Spreadsheets instead of custom accounting software. Some users may also find that they don't really need to get the latest and greatest upgrades, unless there are security reasons to do so.

Textbooks

Planned obsolescence isn't limited to newer kinds of technology. Even though not much changes from year to year for most core subjects, textbook publishers issue frequent updates. Trouble is, each new edition is usually printed with the information shifted to different page numbers, making it difficult to follow along in class with a previous volume.

Given that textbooks are quite expensive, some students are fighting back by buying recently used texts at a fraction of the cost from places like Craigslist. Or perhaps even cheaper and more convenient, you may be able to rent the textbooks you need. Chegg.com, for example, is a mail service not unlike Netflix, in which shipping on return books is free. Chegg plants a tree for every book users rent, sell or buy, and rental costs range from about 10% of list price to about 30%.

Finally, some savvy students have discovered that they need not even buy every text on the class list; rarely used ones can be referenced at the library or shared among friends.

Fast Fashion

One year fishnets are out, the next year they're in. Unless you have your own warehouse like Demi Moore, chances are good that you don't hang on to every piece of clothing you own to wait until acid wash comes back into vogue. Whether it's because of cuts, hemlines or colors, a lot of what is advertised and sold is designed to go out of style in a short time.

Instead of buying the latest and greatest apparel, consider timeless classics. Vintage clothes are a great green choice, and offer nearly endless style possibilities. Avoid so-called "fast fashion," which is churned out quickly based on ephemeral trends and isn't designed to last. Rent the items you'll only wear once or twice, like tuxedos, prom dresses or possibly even hand bags. Finally, learn to mend the clothes you already have - that's the greenest option yet!

By becoming more educated consumers, we can enjoy higher value and have less environmental impact.

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

Check out Yahoo! Green on Twitter and Facebook.

 

 

Photo: Tony Crider/Flickr

Okay friends, this is as much for me as it is for you. I have become lazy when it comes to using coupons at the store. I don’t spend much time tracking them down. The few I have, I forget to take to the store with me most of the time.

 

So I’m gathering a list of websites to visit while I’m creating my grocery list. These are websites that offer coupons on the foods that I buy — some frequently, some infrequently. You can save up to 30% on healthy staples such as milk, yogurt, meat, and more. Of course, how much you save depends on the prices at your local grocery store. 

 

These are sites that offer access to coupons immediately, but in some cases you need to register to get access. Once you register, you'll likely receive email newsletters, but those newsletters might have more money-saving offers in them.

 

There are many other manufacturers that don’t have immediate coupons on their sites, but they send out coupons in newsletters if you sign up for them. I’ll leave them for another blog post.

 

• Arm & Hammer – A while back, home blogger Matt told us how to clean naturally with Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. You can get coupons for Arm & Hammer products after registering on this site.
• Bordon – Organic milk coupon.
• Brown Cow – Register to get e-coupons on Brown Cow’s yogurts.
• Coleman – Complete a quick survey and get $5 in coupons for Coleman’s natural and organic meats. Save around 17% on bacon depending on where you live. 
• Earthbound Organics – You have to work for this one. Take a quiz about organics, score 100 percent, and get a coupon. Save up to 26% on salad mixes depending on the prices at your local store. 
• Earth’s Best – Coupons for organic baby food, infant formula, and toddler snacks.
• Laura’s Lean Beef – Sign up for the newsletter and receive an instant e-coupon.
• Lighthouse – You need to sign up to receive a coupon good for Lighthouse products including organic salad dressings.
• Hill’s Science Diet Pet Food – Natural dog and cat food coupons. Must register.
• Horizon – Sign up to get access to the coupons.
• Marzetti – Marzetti has a line of organic salad dressings and dips.
• Mombo Sprouts – Lots of various coupons for different natural and organic products. Changes frequently.
• Newman’s Own – The company founded by the late Paul Newman allows you to print coupons twice and lets you know when the coupons will change so you can get the new ones when they go up. You can use 50 cent coupons on numerous products. Count on saving around 25% on lemonade, 20% on salsa, and 16% on salad dressings and pasta sauces depending on the prices at your local store. 
• Organic Valley – Coupons for organic milk, eggs, cheese, and butter. Save as much as 30% on a half-gallon of organic milk depending on prices at your grocery store. 
• Pacific Foods – Coupons for soups, beverages, and frozen foods. I love the creamy tomato soup.
• R.W. Knudsen – Register for coupons for natural juices.
• Santa Cruz – Organic beverage and peanut butter coupons.
• Seeds of Change – Organic rice, pasta, and chocolate.
• Simply Organic – Coupons for a variety of Simply Organic products.
• Seventh Generation – Register and get instant access to coupons for household products. Save up to 27% on dish-washing liquid depending on prices at your grocery store. 
• Stonyfield – You need to register for access to the e-coupons. Save around 20% on a box of organic yogurt tubes depending on prices at your store. 
• Tribe Hummus – Tribe makes an all-natural hummus and an organic hummus.

Remember, any of these sites can change or omit their coupons at any time.

 

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Happy America Saves Week! Whatever you do, don't run out and buy me a present. That would defeat the whole purpose of the holiday.

America Saves Week 2010 (February 21-28) is a nationwide campaign involving more than 1,000 nonprofit, government, and corporate groups that encourages individuals and families to save and build personal wealth. The event's website is loaded with free resources and advice, including a nifty calculator that allows you to track your net worth. (Warning: The calculator is easy to use, but the results might be hard to take.)

America Saves Week is a perfect time to start getting your financial house in order and maybe jump-start that flagging New Year's resolution to spend less and save more.

 

Here are my top five tips to help get you started:

1) Go on a fiscal fast:
Swear-off all spending for a couple of days - or ideally an entire week - as a sort of "spending detox." It's time to use it up, make it last, or do without.

A fiscal fast will save you some money (put it into savings or pay off some debt with what you save!), and teach you about how you spend - and probably waste - money in a typical week. It'll also remind you of how many terrific things in life are free.

 

2) Practice spending procrastination:
When it comes to discretionary spending, it usually pays to put off buying until tomorrow what you're tempted to buy today. Studies have shown that we have regrets about nearly 80% of the discretionary purchases we make within the first year of making the purchase.

Force yourself to wait at least a week between the time you see an item in a store and when you go back to purchase it. Chances are great that you'll reconsider and never go back to buy it.

 

3) Put your finances on autopilot:
To paraphrase Jack Nicholson's character in A Few Good Men, "The money? You can't handle the money!" Have your paychecks and other income deposited directly into your bank account(s), including automatic allocations into designated savings and investment accounts.

Then authorize your creditors (e.g., credit card companies, mortgage lender, insurance company, etc.) to automatically withdraw your payments every month from your account. By putting your finances on autopilot, savings becomes automatic and you'll never have late fees or missed payments again.

 

4) Pay with cash only:
Studies have shown that when you pay with a credit card, you're more likely to buy something than when you pay with cash, and you're more willing to pay more for it (see my previous post on credit cards).

Psychologically, it's just harder to part with actual greenbacks than it is to whip out the plastic. Try paying for everything with cash for a week and see how much you save.

 

5) Conduct a "What the heck was I thinking?" audit:
Sit down once or twice a year and look back at your major discretionary purchases during the preceding months. Then ask yourself one simple question: "If I had it to do over again, would I have bought that?"

Make a list of expenditures you regret, and learn from those mistakes. You'll probably notice some patterns, like maybe you're prone to buy clothing on a whim that you regret later. Or maybe you rush out to buy the latest tech gadget the day it comes out, before the bugs have been worked out and increased demand causes prices to drop.

 

So, break out the box wine and join me in a toast to America Saves Week 2010.

 

Jeff Yeager is the author of the book The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches. His website is www.UltimateCheapskate.com.

Follow Jeff Yeager on Twitter and friend Jeff on Facebook. Friend TDG on Facebook and follow TDG on Twitter.

 

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on a marketing claim that may have ensnared many environmentally conscious buyers: "bamboo."

While clothing and other textiles may have started off, at some point, as the rapidly regenerative bamboo, the FTC says companies can't label rayon as bamboo, even if it's made from bamboo. Why?

Because, according to the FTC:

Rayon is a man-made fiber created from the cellulose found in plants and trees and processed with harsh chemicals that release hazardous air pollution. Any plant or tree – including bamboo – could be used as the cellulose source, but the fiber that is created is rayon.

The FTC this week sent warning letters to 78 retailers about misguided use of "bamboo" marketing. Among the warned retailers: Amazon.com, Barney’s New York, Bed Bath & Beyond, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Bloomingdale’s, Costco Wholesale, Garnet Hill, Gold Toe, Hanes, Isotoner, JC Penney, Jockey, Kmart, Kohl’s, Land’s End, Macy’s, Maidenform, Nordstrom, Overstock.com, QVC, REI, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sears, Shop NBC, Spiegel, Sports Authority, Target, The Gap, The Great Indoors, Tommy Bahama, Toys R’ Us, Wal-Mart, and Zappos.com. Last year, the FTC sued several retailers for advertising rayon as bamboo.

"We need to make sure companies use proper labeling and advertising in their efforts to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers," David C. Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a prepared statement. "Rayon is rayon, even if bamboo has been used somewhere along the line in the manufacturing process."

If retailers and manufacturers fail to comply, the penalty can be severe: $16,000 per violation.

The FTC's consumer tips include this information about "bamboo" rayon:

• Rayon made from bamboo uses "toxic chemicals in a process that releases pollutants into the air."
• "Extracting bamboo fibers is expensive and time-consuming, and textiles made just from bamboo fiber don’t feel silky smooth."
• "There’s also no evidence that rayon made from bamboo retains the antimicrobial properties of the bamboo plant."
• "No traits of the original plant are left in the finished product."

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