The product review gurus over at Consumer Reports have a new tool designed to make sure you don’t pay too much for a not-so-hot item.

According to the release:

The “Consumer Reports Value Index” is a snapshot in time of the relative value of products recently rated by Consumer Reports. The graph plots the overall score of each product from Consumer Reports’ Ratings versus the median online price from PriceGrabber.com, Consumer Reports’ shopping tool. Value zones are based on Consumer Reports’ experience rating and evaluating products over the past 72 years and vary by product category.

The index rates Cameras and TVs so far. Non-subscribers can view the graphics, but any details on products are for subscribers only. Of course, you can take the model number and zoom over to any other technology site (cnet.com, for example) for reviews.

Both the digital camera and the flat screen TV my family purchased recently end up in the medium value category on the upper right hand side. That’s good, according to the CR folks.

Have you heard that I love credit card rewards programs? Well this time of year, I love them more than ever.

So far, I’ve turned my credit card rewards into the following items to give away as gifts:

$20 cashback from Discover into $25 in AMC movie bucks

$20 cashback from Discover for $25 in Blockbuster movie rentals

$20 cashback from Discover for $25 Borders gift card

A LEGO® Road Construction Set for 3100 Citibank Thank You points

$25 Amazon.com Gift Certificate for 3500 Thank You points

Rhino Rampage Game for 2,800 Pts (more…)

This video is making the rounds so chances are you’ve seen it. But for those of you who haven’t, it serves as a reminder to try to keep toy-buying in check this season– especially for younger kids.

It’s so easy to be seduced by the deals and coupons that desperate retailers are throwing at us parents.

To avoid being duped:

• Set a price limit and don’t go over it just to get a “deal.” I’m guilty of this one!
• Write down all of the things you think your kid wants and halve the list. Or buy it all and give half to charity.
• If you tend to go overboard, discuss your plans with your spouse or someone you know has more restraint.

There’s all sorts of interesting stuff out there on how the economy is making Americans rethink their spending.

This Wall Street Journal story discusses how brand loyalty is going down the tank as fast as the stock market.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve had little brand loyalty for years now with the exception of packing tape and face lotion. When my husband brought home two small things of Quaker Oats instead of the ginormous store brand, I almost strangled the poor guy.

With the holidays here, at least according to retail calendars, there are plenty of surveys coming out about how we are all planning to reduce our holiday spending this year.  (more…)

For most of us, this is one of the scariest financial times in our lifetimes. And one of the reasons we’re in trouble is that healthy financial institutions are hoarding nuts for the long winter instead of sharing the wealth.

As a consumer, I’m doing the same. I am being extremely careful about how I spend, which means I’m saving more. I doubt I’m the only one.

It makes me wonder. Is America, the nation of spenders simply in hibernation and we’ll come out hungry for deals when this financial thing shakes out? Or are we going to come out of this mess fundamentally changed?