2007 Consumer Reports Ultimate Money Guide (I) - Spending & Saving

I recently obtained a copy of Consumer Reports’ 2007 Ultimate Money Guide. The 50-page report offers many useful tips that cover broad areas of personal finance. As the report claims that each tip is “short, to the point, and designed to help you make the right financial decision.”

The report has 5 chapters:

1. Spending & Saving
2. Borrowing & Debt
3. Investing & Goals
4. Protecting & Risks
5. Taxes & Estate Planning

In the following days/weeks, I will summarize each of the five chapters and share with everybody what the experts have to say regarding spending, saving, and investing. It doesn’t mean that I agree or disagree with their advices. The purpose is to provide information (there are always things we don’t know) and, at the same time, let everybody be his/her own judge on whether these tips are helpful or not.

Where to get the best prices online

• Google Product Search
• Yahoo Shopping
• Bizrate.com
• MSN Shopping
• Shopping.com
• MySimon.com

Savings code aggregators

• All online coupons
• Currentcodes.com
• FindSavings.com
• Keycode.com
• SlickDeals.net

Online wine deals

• K&L Wine Merchants
• My Wines Direct
• Wine.com
• Wine-Searcher
• Wine Zap

Save on medicine

• Use generics
• Buy drugs online: Check out places like www.drugstore.com and buy drugs from FDA recommended Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS). Visit www.pharmacychecker.com for ratings.
• Choose wisely: Use www.crbestbuydrugs.org to compare online shops.

Pay less for life insurance

• Buy term coverage: Give you the maximum coverage with possibly the minimum premium;
• Buy what you need: Use www.life-line.org’s free calculator to find out how much insurance you need;
• Get policy quotes: Useful websites www.accuquote.com, www.findmyinsurance.com, www.lifeinsure.com;
• Find a broker: Get professional help on what you need to do;
• Check the ratings: Find an insurer’s rating from A. M. Best, Fitch, Moody’s, S&P, and Weiss;
• Change your coverage: Recalculate when income changes significantly.

Seasonal sales

• January: Air conditioners, computers, exercise equipment, furniture, linens & bedding, new SUVs/pickup trucks, TVs, home-theater systems, winter coats/sweaters
• February: Electronics, housewares, Valentine’s Day gifts
• March: Gardening gear, luggage, washers/dryers
• April: Bridal gowns, exterior paint/stains, fitness equipment, appliance, vacuum cleaners
• May: Basketball gear, crystal, china, silver, digital cameras, Mother’s Day gifts, spring clothing
• June: Electronics, Father’s Day gifts, linens, small appliances
• July: Computers, major appliances, ski gear, summer clothing
• August: Back-to-school items, furniture, land-line phones, patio furniture
• September: Baseball gear, interior remodeling materials, pool and patio items
• October: Boats, crystal, silver and glassware, fishing gears, major appliances, vehicles
• November: Bedding, bikes, computers, electronics, heaters, toys, winter clothing
• December: Electronics and appliances, Holiday gift items, soccer, running and football gear

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• Get the most out of your money with these online banks that pay top interest rates: EverBank: 4.75% APY, FNBO Direct: 3.50% APY, Washington Mutual: 3.75% APY.
• Feeling the pain at the pump? Find out how you can get up to 5% cash back with these gas rewards credit cards. It's the money you have to spend anyway. Why not get some back?