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When Your Teen Works: Don't allow late night work which
threatens safety and interferes with school. Click here for more tips for parents of working teens. |
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You have the right to know what's in your tap water. Call your local water utility or visit the EPA's Web site for information about Consumer Confidence Reports. |
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Buy concentrated versions of products such as soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, beverages and cleaners when possible. |
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AVOID direct sun exposure in the late morning and mid-afternoon, especially at high altitudes. This is when we are most susceptible to UV rays. |
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Do business with those you know and trust. If you aren't familiar with the company, ask for information to be sent to you about the products or services it's offering |
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Tips for preparing food: Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling food; rinse or peel raw produce; thaw frozen food in the refridgerator rather than on the counter. |
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Proper cooking kills most bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Use a meat thermometer to be sure that food is properly cooked. |
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Because ground meats are more perishable than other cuts, it is important to store properly and cook thoroughly. |
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Defrost meat in the refridgerator or microwave--never at room temperature.If you thaw in the microwave, cook it immediately. |
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When purchasing sunglasses, check the label for 99-100 percent UV protection and look for sunglasses that wrap around, and are close-fitting. |
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Avoid direct sun exposure in the late morning and mid-afternoon, especially at high altitudes. This is when we are most susceptible to UV rays. |
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Read the label or talk to a pharmacist before taking any medications. |
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Keep all medications away from children. Always keep the bottle cap locked. |
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Guard your financial or other account information.Don't provide it to anyone unless there is a legitimate reason to do so as a part of a transaction. Check out NCL's new Web page: Scams Against Businesses. |
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Some health insurance plans offer lower co-pays if you use generic drugs. Talk to your doctor to see if generics are right for you. |
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By choosing a generic drug, you can save a significant amount of money and you won't compromise on quality. |
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Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area. Test the alarms each month and replace the batteries each year. |
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Plan your escape from fire. Sit down with your family and agree on a fast escape plan. Practice your plan at least twice a year. |
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Crawl low under smoke. The air is cleanest near the floor. If you must escape through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees to the nearest exit. |
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Stock up on fire extinguishers. Each home should be equipped with a fire extinguisher on each level and in the garage. |
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Stop, Drop, and Roll. If your clothes catch fire, don't run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll over and over to smother the flames. |
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Give space heaters space. Keep portable space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Never leave them on when you leave home or go to bed. |
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Help the environment by using less stuff. Flexible packages often can deliver more product with less packaging. |
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Buying products in large "economy sizes" generates less packaging waste than "single serving" items, as long as you don't buy more than you need or can use. |
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Fire Safety Tip: Use electricity safely. If an electrical appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it immediately. |
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Fire Safety Tip:Teach your children that matches and lighters are tools, not toys, and should only be used by adults. |
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Online shopping Tips: Check the seller's reputation. Learn as much as you can about companies or individuals BEFORE you do business with them. |
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Online shopping Tips: Consider taxes and shipping costs. Your purchase may be subject to taxes or duties especially if the transaction is international. |
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Online shopping Tips: Pay the safest way. Credit cards are generally the best way to pay because you have legal rights to dispute the charges if the product or service is misrepresented or never delivered. |
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Online shopping Tips: Ask about insurance.Some auction sites provide insurance to buyers, Be sure you know how it works and how much they cover. |
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Online shopping Tips: Use an escrow service. They hold your money until you have confirmed that you received the product or service and then release payment to the seller. |
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Online shopping Tips: Look for privacy protections. Reputable Web site operators will clearly state privacy policies in an easily accessible place. |
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Online shopping Tips: Look for information about the offer. Good companies will provide you with plenty of information and make it easy to find. |
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Online shopping Tips: Keep records. Print out all the information on your transaction, including the product description, delivery information, privacy policy, warranties, and any confirmation notices that the seller sends you. |
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Online shopping Tips: Good Web sites will provide information about how they protect your financial information when it is transmitted and stored. |
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Online shopping Tips: Your computer browser can tell you if the place where you are about to send information is secure. Look for an unbroken key or closed lock at the bottom of the browser window. |
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Online shopping Tips: Know when the products will be delivered or the services performed. |
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When a child or teen comes to your door with products to sell: if it is an organization you have never heard of, consider it suspicious. If there is no adult present, do not buy. |
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Online shopping Tips: Check the seller's reputation. Learn as much as you can before you do business with them. Check www.BBBOnLine.org to find out about complaints. |
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Candy Kids: Many kids selling candy door to door are being exploited by commercial enterprises. Report the activity to local law enforcement so they know candy kids are selling in your neighborhood. |
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Help Stop Sweatshops: Sweatshops violate worker's rights. Ask retailers if they can guarantee that their products are manufactured under decent conditions. |
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If you are shopping for a new carpet, make sure it was made without child labor: Ask the store manager if they carry carpets with the RUGMARK label. Click here to find out more about the RUGMARK Campaign. |
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When shopping online for holiday travel: Get all of the information on the deal, including companies involved in any vacation packages, to make sure the information the seller is providing is correct. |
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Online auction tips: Check the auction house's guarantee or terms and conditions to see if it offers protections such as escrow services, feedback areas, or if it has removed problem sellers. |
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When shopping online for holiday travel: Report any suspicion of fraud to local law enforcement, the Internet Fraud Watch or the Federal Trade Commission. The more reports law enforcement receives, the better able they are to try to stop online travel scams. |
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Taking action against telemarketers: Tell the caller to put you on the company's "do not call" list to prevent a telemarketer from calling you again. |
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Taking action against telemarketers: If a telemarketer calls after you ask to be on the company's "do not call" list, make a note of it. Keep a notepad by the phone and write down the date, name and address of the company calling, and the name of the caller and his/her supervisor. |
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Help empower elders against telemarketing fraud. Suggest they tell the caller that the product sounds interesting, they want to check it out, and they will have to call them back. This enables the elders to take charge of the situation and possibly spot a criminal. |
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It's National Hospice Month: · It's a good idea to write a living will and set up a power of attorney even if you are in good health. |
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It's National Hospice Month: · You may want to talk to an attorney about your living will or request the forms from your state's attorney general. |
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It's National Hospice Month: When choosing hospice care, ask if the program is approved by Medicare - the hospice services may be covered. |
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Do your part to help the environment: Create a backyard compost pile to reduce waste when raking leaves or collecting grass clippings. |
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Do your part to help the environment: Look for products in refillable, recyclable and reusable containers to help ease the problem of solid waste. |
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Do your part to help the environment: Bring your own bags to the grocery store or recycle the plastic grocery bags - most supermarkets have a recycling bin for used bags. |
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Do your part to help the environment: Buy concentrated versions of products such as laundry or dish detergent, whenever possible. |
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Do your part to help the environment: Look for products in refillable, recyclable and reusable containers to help ease the problem of solid waste. |
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Do your part to help the environment: Bring your own bags to the grocery store or recycle the plastic grocery bags - most supermarkets have a recycling bin for used bags. |
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Do your part to help the environment: Buy concentrated versions of products such as laundry or dish detergent, whenever possible. |
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Do your part to help the environment: Support companies that cut down on waste by looking for simple or flexible packaging. |
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Holiday cooking tip: Make sure you freeze or store your Thanksgiving turkey in the refrigerator at below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Thaw it in the fridge - don't thaw it at room temperature. |
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Holiday cooking tip: Use a meat thermometer to make sure your turkey is thoroughly cooked. Whole turkeys should be at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Holiday cooking tip: Your Thanksgiving turkey is done when the juices run clear and there is no pink color. |
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Holiday cooking tip: Don't serve food with utensils or dishes that were used in the preparation of the food unless you've washed them. |
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Holiday cooking tip: Either return or throw away canned food if the contents spray out when you open the can or if the food looks frothy or bubbly. |
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Storing leftovers: Immediately date and refrigerate uneaten food, and freeze your leftover turkey if you won't eat it in 2-3 days. |
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Reheating leftovers: Meat should be at 165 degrees Fahrenheit or until hot and steamy, and gravy should be cooked to a rolling boil. |
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Storing leftovers: Put your leftovers in shallow dishes that cool quickly and double wrap raw turkey so the juices don't drip on any other food in the refrigerator. |
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When considering additional credit: Find out what your monthly payment will be and how long you will make payments. |
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Create a workable budget: Keep track of how much money you spend, what you spend it on, and exactly how much you owe. |
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When considering additional credit: Think about your current and future income, your current debt, and your short-term and long-term goals. |
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When considering additional credit: Refer to your budget and make sure you can afford the additional monthly expense. |
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When considering additional credit: Ask yourself if the debt will put a strain on your budget, and if it's worth it. |
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If your credit card and loan payments (not including rent or mortgage) add up to more than 10 percent of your monthly income after taxes, proceed cautiously-you may want to pay off some of the debt before getting more credit. |
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Thinking about a home equity line of credit? Make sure your need outweighs the risk--remember your house is the collateral and if you are unable to repay the loan, you will lose your house. |
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Thinking about a home equity line of credit? Look at your budget and decide if you can afford the additional debt and another monthly payment. |
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Thinking about a home equity line of credit? Talk to a financial advisor about what kind of second mortgage best fits your needs and what interest rates apply to each line of credit. |
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Thinking about a home equity line of credit? Compare lenders and their terms and decide which best fit your needs. |
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Thinking about a home equity line of credit? Never borrow more money that you need and can afford to repay. |
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Thinking about a home equity line of credit? Avoid any equity loan that uses all your equity. It is dangerous to borrow more than 80 percent of the equity in your home. |
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When considering additional credit: If the lender is unfamiliar to you, ask your local Better Business Bureau or consumer protection office if they have any complaints against the lender. |
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When considering additional credit: Avoid any equity loan that uses all your equity. It is dangerous to borrow more than 80 percent of the equity in your home. |
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When considering additional credit: Read the loan agreement carefully before you sign it, and make sure the lender has explained all the terms and costs of the second mortgage. |
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Y2K tips for prescription drugs: Don't go overboard stocking up on prescriptions before January 1, 2000. Keep up to date by picking up your normal refill when you have a 5 to 7 day supply remaining. |
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Y2K tips for prescription drugs: If you order your medication through the mail, allow a few extra days for mail handling. |
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Y2K tips for prescription drugs: Maintain a list of prescription and important non-prescription medications you and your family take. |
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Y2K tips for prescription drugs: Create a personal health record for your and your family including drug allergies, medical conditions, past medical treatments and physician contact information. |
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Y2K tips for prescription drugs: Keep records of your insurance claims and carry your current insurance card with you. |
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Tips for using your debit card: If your card is lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to your financial institution. |
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Tips for using your debit card: If you suspect your card is being used fraudulently, report it immediately. |
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Tips for using your debit card: Hold on to the receipts from your debit card transactions-a thief doesn't have to use your card to make purchases on your account. |
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Tips for using your debit card: If you have a PIN number, memorize it. Don't keep the PIN with your card. Also, choose a PIN that will not be easy for a thief to figure out, such as your birthday. |
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Tips for using your debit card: Keep track of how much money is in your account and make sure to record all of your ATM and debit withdrawals. |
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Learn how to spot health fraud: Be suspicious of products that claim to cure a wide range of unrelated diseases, especially serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes or AIDS. |
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Learn how to spot health fraud: Be wary of claims that a product can bring quick relief or a quick cure for a serious illness. |
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Learn how to spot health fraud: Don't be fooled by the term "natural"-it doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe. |
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Learn how to spot health fraud: Don't fall for money back guarantees-con artists rarely stay in the same place for long, and if you can't find them you won't get a refund. |
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Learn how to spot health fraud: Watch out for claims of a "miracle cure," "new discovery," or "magical" treatments. |
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Learn how to spot health fraud: Know the difference between fact and fiction-fanciful, meaningless medical terms often cover up a lack of scientific proof. |
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Learn how to spot health fraud:Stay away from promises of easy, rapid weight loss. A healthy weight loss is about 1 to 2 pounds a week |
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If you suspect health fraud, contact the Better Business Bureau or your state attorney general's office. |