Baltimore Restaurant Week will continue through Feb. 8 at some participating eateries, according to the event Web site.

Readers of Dining@Large, The Sun's restaurant blog, have been comparing notes on Restaurant Week menus, but I'm curious where, if anywhere, the discerning Consuming Interests community has been spending its money. 

The restaurants prepare specially priced three-course lunch and dinner menus, at $20.08 and $30.08 respectively. Many menus are posted online so you can read the selections ahead of time.

Anyone making a restaurant week decision has to weigh a lot of factors ... 

... including the average price of non-discounted meals at those establishments, the popularity of the location, how new it is, whether you'll be able to get a reservation at a reasonable hour, etc.

Some friends, for example, wanted to go to Pazo last night but wouldn't get seated until 9 p.m. It's a warning to us all: book early! 

So is it a good deal? Like all discounts: maybe. If there's a restaurant you've wanted to try, especially if it's too expensive during the rest of the year, this seems like a great reason to RSVP. If you need a break from all the recession-induced deprivation, this might be a good respite.

P.S. Don't forget to factor in Restaurant Week tipping, as well. 

(photo: Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

Got a personal finance question? Like, what do I do now with half my savings wiped out?

You can get an answer from a pro today at an event sponsored by the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.

Financial advisers around the country will be taking consumers’ calls today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. To ask a question, call toll-free 888-919-2345.

Or, you can go online at Kiplinger’s site to participate in an online discussion with an adviser.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 7:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Personal finance
        

E-ZPass fees will be levied in Maryland starting in July, despite protest by Maryland drivers. The Maryland Transportation Authority board voted Wednesday to approve the $1.50 monthly charge, the $21 cost of new and replacement transponders and other changes, including higher tolls for trucks. The discount ticket program for commuters has also ended.

Lots of readers booed the plan when the monthly E-ZPass fees were first proposed earlier this month, particularly casual users. A small minority said they would hang onto theirs because the time saved was worth the price. And transportation reporter and Getting There columnist Michael Dresser has said that more toll agencies are charging fees.

Now that it's official, what are you going to do?

Also remember there are ways to avoid at least some of the toll collection fees ... 

... as Dresser explains, you can easily bypass the Delaware toll plaza by taking local roads and save $4 each way. That detour alone would pay for four months of E-ZPass service, right? 

And more and more toll collection agencies are going in this direction, Dresser pointed out. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Cars, Cheap/Frugal
        

Free stuff abounds on the Intertubes!

Audible.com offers a free download of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, an offer discovered via Consumerist.

And get a free breakfast at Ikea this weekend (Friday, Jan. 30, Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sun. Feb. 1). The coupon at the bottom of the page is good for a free small breakfast and small coffee until 10:30 a.m. Thanks, FrugalFrank (via MoneySavingMom, via DealBetty)

No worries if you oversleep, though ...

... because a small breakfast only costs 99 cents the rest of the day. Just be sure to avoid impulse purchases of well-designed but poorly constructed products with umlat-laden names while you're there.

One final free offer, for small business owners out there: Intuit is launching a Small Business United program, giving away free small business software tools, small business advice, free website hosting (for the first year) and more.

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Technology
        

So, more Cheap Trick Thursday: workplace columnist Hanah Cho tipped me off to an intriguing offer from McDonalds --- one free medium McCafe coffee from 5 to 8 a.m. every day in February, at Golden Arches locations that sport fancy McCafes selling fancy coffee beverages.

Hanah spotted a commercial advertising this deal, but unfortunately I have not been able to find any information online stating definitively which McDonalds in our area are participating or even which have McCafes at all.

There appears to be some debate online about which U.S. regions will have franchises offering the free McCafe coffee in February deal.

Do you have a McCafe near you? Please share addresses and information so your fellow readers can enjoy this as well.

UPDATE: Looking for more free McDonalds McCafe coffee? Click the link for more details, because Baltimore-area McDonalds will be offering freebies in April!

UPDATED AGAIN: More <a xhref="http://tr.im/rKN5">free McDonalds McCafe Mochas, every Monday</a> through Aug. 3, 2009!

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Gas prices
        

Coupons can save you money on food and products you need if you use them effectively.

Whether you clip 'n save the discounts from your newspaper or print them online coupons, you're bound to find the promise of savings for at least one or two items that is already on your shopping list.

But wait! you say. Aren't store brands always cheaper? And aren't coupons only offered for unhealthy prepared foods?

Not necessarily, on both accounts --- especially if you follow the strategy of frequent commenter and coupon maven Holly, who has shared her Target coupon strategies with Consuming Interests readers in the past.

As a mother of young children, she saves a lot with diaper and baby wipes coupons. And even if you make all your food from scratch, there are plenty of coupons for personal care items such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes and the like ... stuff most of us don't live without.

Holly "stacks" her manufacturer's coupons, waiting until an item goes on sale or when a store like Target offers a coupon itself. Then, she uses both the store discount and redeems her coupons for even greater savings. Those discounts can make name brand products even cheaper than store brands.

She recently e-mailed me when she discovered ...

... that BJ's Wholesale Club also allows customers to stack manufacturer's coupons with store coupons, which can be pretty lucrative. She benefits there from the lower prices for buying in bulk as well as the big coupons the store offers (sometimes more than $2 off, she said).

So when should you pull out your coupon organizer? Trent at The Simple Dollar recommends waiting a month to use a coupon. Check out his coupon organizing system.

He coordinates his meal planning with store sales circulars, his coupon binder and his grocery price book comparing regular prices at area stores, so to ensure he's getting the best deal. And generally, he has found the best deals can be had about one month after the coupon is published.

(photo: Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Shopping
        

Free File is a low-cost option available to more people than ever this year. The IRS raised the maximum adjusted gross income to qualify for this service to $56,000 for 2009.

If your paychecks are a little higher than that, this year the Internal Revenue Service has come up with a way for anyone to file their taxes electronically for free, according to this Living for Less tip by Eileen. 

It's called Free File Fillable Forms (someone likes their alliteration, don't they?) and lets you fill out electronic versions of the traditional paper federal returns.

The new service doesn't sound as user-friendly as Free File, but it will do some basic calculations for you, which is a plus. And did we mention it's free? 

Regardless of how you submit your federal return, Maryland offers its own free way to file Maryland taxes electronically, called iFile.

Either federal option should result in your refund being direct-deposited in your bank account in as little as 10 days. With such a short turnaround, let's hope few if any people this year fall for the allure of refund anticipation loans.

These high-cost loans, formerly known as instant tax refunds, have wreak havoc on the financial health of people who wanted their returns as quickly as possible. Don't succumb!

Anyway, has anyone out there given any of these services a try? Are they worth the very low price? 

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Taxes
        

We shared some ways to cut your cell phone bill in an earlier Consumer Web Site of the Week, and reprised some of those ideas on The Sun's Riding Out the Recession page.

Here's another option for folks who are stuck in a contract and don't want to pay an early termination fee of up to $250: give your plan to someone else who agrees to take over the monthly commitment.

It's easier than you might imagine. Each cell service provider has a method of transferring responsibility for a monthly contract to a new user. And several Web sites, including Cellswapper, cellularswap.com and CellTrade USA can facilitate your foisting a plan --- and commitment --- onto other people.

You might even be able to keep your number by porting it over to a new service before switching the contract!

Why would anyone be interested in being on the receiving end of such a deal? 

Some cell phone users would like a shorter commitment than the usual 24-month contract. And many people offer incentives, including their old phone, accessories, or even cash, to make their plans move more quickly.

Cellswapper does charge a $15 "success fee" of sellers who post their plan details and are able to cut a deal. Both cellularswap.com and Celltrade levy membership fees, although posting a profile is free. But if you compare that to the cost of an early termination fee ... it's worth it.

(photo: Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Cheap/Frugal, Consumer Web Site of the Week, Technology
        

All right, Dining@Large posted it first, but I heard it from workplace columnist Hanah Cho (she's a super shopper as well): free coffee and breakfast samples at Panera Bread today (Wednesday).

If you've already scraped the ice off your car or find yourself within walking --- I mean skating -- distance of  one of these bakery-cafes, stop in for your free coffee and a taste of their new grilled breakfast sandwiches and granola parfait.

Also, some locations will be collecting money for the company's Operation Dough-Nation^® Community Breadbox^TM program. Those locations will match the donated money, up to $250, and give it to local programs.

(photo: Chiaki Kawajiri/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

Looks like Crowdsprout.com is open for business -- and it is a Web 2.0 social business, indeed. For bringing the idea of group-buying to the Web, we're calling Crowdsprout.com our consumer website of the week. Let's watch it to see how well it works.

I profiled the Web start-up group-buying site last month, after interviewing one of the co-founders. The site is based on the principle of using collective buying power -- via the Web -- to lower prices for all who buy a particular product.

Check out their site and let us know what you think. Do the group deals entice you? For the moment, the site is heavily geared toward offering baby-related products, such as strollers (like the one in the picture), furniture and accessories.

So if you're a parent (and perchance a regular over at Charm City Moms), let us know what you think of the site.

We're waiting for a similar online group-buying site, called Salescoop.com, to open its virtual doors. This could be the year consumers use the power of the Web and social media to finagle deals for themselves. Hey, in a recession, you gotta do what you can to save.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer Web Site of the Week
        

Countrywide Financial Corp. will pay more than $2.1 million for foreclosure relief to Marylanders who lost their homes, state officials said this afternoon.

This is part of the previously announced settlement the mortgage company reached with Maryland’s Consumer Protection Division. The agreement was recently filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Countrywide was accused of engaging in unfair and deceptive practices that put Marylanders in risky, expensive and ultimately unaffordable mortgage loans, state officials claimed. These practices occurred before Countrywide was acquired by Bank of America, the state said. Countrywide denied the allegations.

To settle the matter, Countrywide agreed to offer loan modifications and relocation assistance to borrowers who lost their homes.

Countrywide will notify borrowers eligible for loan modifications or the $2.1 million in relief money.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Home/Real Estate
        

Here's part two of the Naughty Business of the Week: doctors and other medical professionals disciplined by the Maryland Board of Physicians in December. 

(photo: Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)

David C. Allen, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Hollywood, MD)
Termination of probationary terms and conditions. The physician has complied with
the terms and conditions imposed by the ruling on petition for reinstatement and order of
reinstatement dated September 4, 2003. Date of Action: December 4, 2008

Michael R. Cooper, MRT
Area of Practice: Medical Radiation Technology (Hartford, AL)
Administrative Fine of $500. The health care practitioner practiced medical radiation
technology without a certificate, in violation of the Medical Practice Act, Md. Code Ann.,
Health Occ. §14-5B-17(a). Date of Action: December 18, 2008

Edward Cornfeld, M.D.
Area of Practice: OB/GYN (Germantown, MD)
Permanent revocation; $25,000 fine. The physician prescribed medications while his
license was suspended in violation of provisions of the medical practice act and in
violation of the terms and conditions of the Board’s May 23, 2005, Final Opinion and
Order. Date of Action: December 4, 2008

John Lee Flowers, M.D.
Area of Practice: General Surgery (Baltimore, MD)
Termination of probationary terms and conditions imposed by the Final Order
dated November 8, 2005. The physician has complied with the probationary terms and
conditions precedent. Date of Action: December 4, 2008

Quwania Jefferson, RCP
Area of Practice: Respiratory Care (Wilmington, DE)
Revocation. The allied health practitioner practiced respiratory care in Maryland without
a license and represented to the public that she was authorized to practice respiratory
care. Date of Action: December 18, 2008

Ruth E. Kantor, M.D.
Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Baltimore, MD)
Reprimand; conditions for 3 years. The Board found that the physician failed to
provide details of a patient’s medical record to another physician and failed to cooperate
with a lawful investigation conducted by the Board. Date of Action: December 17, 2008

Neil A. Meade, M.D.
Area of Practice: Family Practice (Laurel, MD)
Order staying suspension; Order of Probation subject to terms and conditions. The
physician met the terms and conditions precedent to the stay of suspension. Date of
Action: December 26, 2008

Robert Jack Reynolds, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Candler, NC)
Suspension; immediately stayed; Probation subject to terms and conditions. The
Board took reciprocal action on disciplinary action by the North Carolina Medical Board
based on impairment issues related to alcohol abuse. Date of Action: December 31,
2008

Torrance L. Richardson, MRT
Area of Practice: Medical Radiation Technology (Clarksburg, MD)
Administrative Fine of $500. The health care practitioner practiced medical radiation
technology without a certificate, in violation of the Medical Practice Act, Md. Code Ann.,
Health Occ. §14-5B-17(a). Date of Action: December 18, 2008

Juan Rivas, Unlicensed
Silver Spring, MD 20906
Civil monetary fine of $1,000. The individual practiced medicine without a license, in
violation of H.O. §14-601. Date of Action: December 17, 2008

Bela Shestopalova, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Silver Spring, MD)
Reprimand; fine of $5000 to be paid no later than 6 months from the effective date
of the order. The Board found that the physician practiced medicine with an
unauthorized person or aided an unauthorized person in the practice of medicine. Date of
Action: December 17, 2008

Stephen E. Slatkin, M.D.
Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Easton, MD)
Termination of probationary terms and conditions imposed by the Final Decision
and Order dated November 9, 2005. The physician has complied with the terms and
conditions precedent. Date of Action: December 4, 2008

Adam C. Vincent, MRT
Area of Practice: Medical Radiation Technology (College Park, MD)
Administrative Fine of $500. The health care practitioner practiced medical radiation
technology without a certificate, in violation of the Medical Practice Act, Md. Code Ann.,
Health Occ. §14-5B-17(a). Date of Action: December 18, 2008

Steven K.S. Yu, M.D.
Area of Practice: OB/GYN (Gaithersburg, MD)
Termination of terms and conditions imposed by the Consent Order dated June 27,
2007. The physician has successfully complied with the terms and conditions imposed
by the Order dated June 27, 2007. Date of Action: December 4, 2008

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety, Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

I've got doctor and health ratings on the brain this week. 

Last week I got to attend a health blogger summit at Consumer Reports, which has recently stepped up its Consumer Reports Health offerings with comparisons of the best diet tips to test results on the latest infomercial exercise equipment.

After all that discussion, it seemed timely to post the latest list of physicians and medical professionals sanctioned by the Maryland Board of Physicians. Check them out below: 

Steven Scott Brooks, M.D.

Area of Practice: Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, and Internal Medicine (Rockville, MD)

Reprimand; Probation for a minimum of 3 years subject to terms and conditions. The Board found that the physician failed to meet the standards of quality care in his practice of interventional cardiology in regard to a patient on whom he performed an invasive cadiac procedure. Date of Action: November 19, 2008

Brian A. Chigbue, M.D.

Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Capitol Heights, MD)

Permanent Revocation. The Board found that the physician engaged in sexual improprieties, sexual misconduct, and sexual violations with patients. Date of Action: November 20, 2008

Rene de los Santos, M.D.

Area of Practice: Internal Medicine and Hemotology (Churchville, MD)

Surrender of License. The physician surrendered his license in lieu of proceeding with the Board’s charges in regard to unprofessional conduct and failure to meet the standards of quality care with respect to certain patient records reviewed. Date of Action: November 20, 2008

Jesus A. Gamez, M.D.

Area of Practice: Anatomic Pathology (Wheaton, MD)

Summary Suspension. The Board determined that the matter required emergency action based on pending criminal charges relating to Controlled Dangerous Substances and a peer review of 12 patients in which the reviewers found that physician failed to meet the standards of quality care in regard to all 12 patients. Date of Action: November 7, 2008

Mikhail Makhlin, M.D.

Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Brooklyn, NY) Revocation. The Board took reciprocal action based on a sanction by the New York Medical Board in regard to the physician’s inappropriate diagnosis of HIV and subsequent treatment for 6 patients, and false representations to the New York Medicaid program and on a hospital reappointment application. Date of Action: November 12, 2008

Lauren Moran, M.D.

Applicant Area of Practice: General Practice (Laurel, MD) Grant of License; Probation for a minimum of 2 years subject to terms and conditions. The applicant had forged the signature of an official in the Registrar’s Office at a school of medicine and failed to inform her residency program that USMLE disciplinary charges were pending. Date of Action: November 20, 2008

Jock Simon, M.D.

Area of Practice: Family Practice (Ocean City, MD)

Summary Suspension. The Board took emergency action based on the physician’s previous history with the Board, his May 2008 arrest for possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia and subsequent charge for possession of CDS and drug paraphernalia; his September 2008 arrest and charge with possession of CDS and other investigatory information that in 2008 the physician regularly purchased and used crack cocaine. Date of Action: November 5, 2008

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Business columnist Jay Hancock beat me to it --- posting transportation columnist Michael Dresser's tips describing two methods to avoid the Delaware tolls.

Delaware charges the highest tolls per mile in the United States. No matter how you feel about the proposed E-ZPass fees, that's highway robbery.

I used the southern Delaware toll avoidance method (starting at MD 272 in North East --- that's exit 100) while headed northbound between Christmas and New Year's Day after a variable message sign alerted me to an accident. Great option if traffic is backed up for miles. I avoided the traffic and saved $4 to boot.

Wish I had tried the northern Delaware toll avoidance option, first mentioned by Dennis on an earlier post, when returning from a NYC trip yesterday. 

What Dresser forgot to mention ... 

... is that that part of Maryland, right around North East boasts some of the lowest gas prices in the area, as well as a wide variety of fast-food establishments for a different kind of fill up. Definitely worth checking out if you'd rather not pay service area prices.

Readers, are there any downsides to these methods? With the northern approach (on southbound 95) sometimes the traffic is backed up so far before that final exit that you might have to wait anyway.

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Cars, Cheap/Frugal
        

Power of attorney is an important responsibility, so choose wisely, Eileen warned us this week.

According to Eileen's column yesterday,

... the power of attorney gives your "agent," the person acting on your behalf, broad authority over your finances with little or no monitoring.

Few protections exist, unfortunately, to keep the person you've selected from paying their own bills with your savings if you're unable to make those decisions yourself.

AARP is lobbying to have a Uniform Power of Attorney Act to try to keep folks from taking advantage, but until then, consider requiring the agent to share financial records with someone else, to ensure that no hanky-panky happens.

And over in Watchdog World, we addressed a pretty common reader complaint ... 

... tree limbs that threaten power lines.

If you see a problem tree, you can report it to BGE by calling 410-685-0123 or filling out a non-emergency BGE problem form online.

You could also check BGE's online tree trimming schedule to find out when they'll be in your area. (I've only gotten it to work in Internet Explorer --- no FireFox or Safari.)

Find out more about how and why the company trims trees near utility poles on the BGE tree care FAQ.

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Personal finance, Retirement
        

Since Barack Obama became president, the Dow Jones industrial average has fallen about 2 percent. Of course, he has a lot of time left in office to recover lost ground.

To see how other recent presidents fared, the folks at DJ Wishire 5000 index ran the numbers. The number for W’s second terms is as of Jan. 16. The results:

Annualized Total Return DJ Wilshire 5000

Ronald Reagan First Term: 12.1% Second Term: 16.1% Total: 14.1%

George H.W. Bush First and Only Term 14.5%

Bill Clinton First Term: 17.7% Second Term: 13.5% Total: 15.6%

George W. Bush First Term: 1.0% Second Term: -5.5% Total: -2.3%

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Investments
        

Have you ever googled your doctor?

That was one of the intriguing questions discussed at a health blogger summit at Consumer Reports' headquarters in Yonkers, N.Y. yesterday during a panel on health ratings --- of physicians, hospitals and drugs. (Check out the twitter feed from the health summit here.)

Certainly if you search the Internet for "doctor ratings" you'll get a number of Web sites that purport to catalog independent reviews of medical professionals. Unfortunately, some of this information is contradictory or may have little impact the kinds of outcomes you could expect as a patient.

But could you, or should you, rely on whatever ratings your Google search pulls up?  Probably about as much as you would for any online review, understanding that folks who write such reviews are a self-selecting group that reflect a limited subset of a patient pool. And you have to wonder why people might be motivated to write -- are they fueled by a bad experience?

So, how should you go about looking for a new doc? 

There's always recommendations from friends and family, although that only gives you information about a small pool of professionals. The experts on the panel yesterday recommended a couple of other ideas to help sort out the options:

1. Ask a nurse --- as health professionals they will have insight, particularly when it comes to specialists;

2. Call a potential doctor's office and try to get a sense of what the wait times are like, as well as the referral times, just to understand ahead of time what his or her patient load might be.

Here's my two cents: also check for sanctions or complaints with the regulatory body that oversees physicians and medical professions, such as the Maryland Board of Physicians. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Healthcare
        

This has been a week of commemorating historic achievements of our past and contemplation on how our lives will change in the future --- socially, politically, economically.

But one group wants to set our country's financial future back on track by returning to ways of the past.

As I first discovered via Frugal Babe, the Templeton Foundation Press is trying to revive National Thrift Week, a celebration of all things frugal that started in 1916 when our country was on the brink of war and continued through the 1960s.

The Library of Congress's study of the National Thrift Movement points out that the movement was sponsored by groups you might expect, such as the Boy Scouts of America and the American Home Economics Association, as well as some you might not, such as the National Retail Dry Goods Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World.

The week was tied to ...

According to the Bringbackthriftweek.com Web site, the week included Have a Bank Account Day, Invest Safely Day, Carry Life Insurance Day, Keep a Budget Day, Pay Bills Promptly Day, Own Your Home Day and Share with Others Day.

Now, clearly, this isn't an excuse to spend the other 51 weeks of the year in idle excess (and you should be nice to your mom even when it isn't Mother's Day). But peruse the suggestions for Thrift Week policy changes, which include keeping credit card companies off college campuses and reforming usury laws.

Got some ways to save of your own? Enter creative techniques for you, your government or organizations to promote frugality in the thrifty ideas contest. State these methods in 50 words or less, and you could win a $100 savings bond.

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Greenies, Shopping
        

There were lines and heavy traffic all over the nation Tuesday. On the East Coast, it was for President Barack Obama's inauguration but on the Left Coast, they were waiting for free beauty products.

The spoils of a $175 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit against cosmetic companies were first available yesterday, Jan. 20, but former customers who were burned by the prices of department-store beauty aids can continue to pick them up while supplies last.

Here's a list of products you'd be able to pick up at Bloomingdales, Macy's or Nordstrom:

Boucheron (USA) Ltd.: Femme Eau de Toilette (1 ounce/30 ml)

Chanel, Inc.: Coco Mademoiselle body lotion (3.4 fluid oz)

Christian Dior Perfumes, Inc.: J’Adore Eau de Parfum (15 ml)

Clarins U.S.A., Inc. (choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last): Clarins Energizing Morning Cream (30 ml) OR Clarins Beauty Flash Bomb (30 ml)

Conopco, Inc. (distributed by Coty, Inc. on behalf of Conopco, Inc.) (choice of ONE of three products, while supplies last): Calvin Klein Euphoria Bath and Shower Crème (6.7 oz) OR Vera Wang Princess Body Polish (5 oz) OR Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker Shower Gel (6.7 oz)

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (customers will have a choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last): Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (15 ml/0.5 oz) OR Clinique Moisture Surge (30 ml/1 oz)

Guerlain, Inc.: My Insolence Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

L’Oréal USA, Inc. (formerly known as Cosmair, Inc.) (choice of ONE of eight products, while supplies last): Lancôme UV Expert 20 OR Lancôme Cils Design Pro Mascara OR Lancôme Fatale Mascara OR Lancôme Courbe Virtuose Mascara OR Lancôme Primordial Skin Defense OR Ralph Lauren Romance Shower Gel (6.7 oz.) OR Giorgio Armani ACM Shower Gel (6.7 oz) OR Lancôme Hypnôse Shower Gel

Parfums Givenchy, Inc.: Very Irresistible Givenchy Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Shopping
        

Just FYI: yesterday's Naughty Business of the Week about contaminated peanut butter products came a little too early.

The state department of health and mental hygiene announced that three Marylanders --- including two children from Baltimore --- were among the more than 400 in 43 states who have gotten sick from the Salmonella Typhimurium infection first reported in the fall.

The three Maryland residents were affected before the end of 2008.

Again, the danger comes not from jarred peanut butter that you might have bought yourself but products made with the sticky stuff, such as cookies, cakes or ice cream. The FDA has a searchable database of peanut butter products with known problems, but when in doubt, throw it out. 

Salmonella infections can result in nausea and vomiting, leading to stomach pain and diarrhea, fever, chills and muscle pains lasting a few days to two weeks, according to the story by Frank Roylance. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

One of my goals for this year seems tedious: I want to keep better records. I want to back up my hard drives and cross-reference my files so that in case of tragedy --- either act of God or at human hands --- all will not be lost. Or, at least, my pictures of my nieces and nephews will remain safe.

Part of this goal will involve creating a home inventory in case of emergency. Simply recording a video of your home, focusing on things of value and quantity, would help with insurance claims should you become a victim of fire or theft.

This Real Simple article about creating a home inventory offers some low-tech means to compile a home inventory, including eight home-inventory worksheets. 

Want something a little more detailed?

The Insurance Information Institute offers free software called Know Your Stuff that lets users catalog their items, along with serial numbers and other data as well as replacement costs. One bonus from this easy-to-use software: you can e-mail yourself a copy to a Web-based account so it's always available in case of disaster.

Over at Unclutterer, the readers there say that having an inventory such as this one helps them put their possessions in perspective and identify items they might consider selling for income, as well. 

(photo: Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Insurance
        

More and more contaminated peanut butter products are being yanked from the shelves this week after a wave of reports of salmonella across the country that has killed six people and sickened hundreds of others, according to the Food and Drug Administration and news reports.

The products all stem from contamination at a Peanut Corporation of America plant in Georgia. But don't toss that jar of Jif in your cupboard --- the plant sells peanut paste to companies that make peanut butter products, such as the Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter, or institutional quantities of peanut butter that go to nursing homes and other places. It doesn't sell the jars that go on supermarket shelves.

The FDA is maintaining a searchable database of contaminated peanut butter products for consumers.

Companies such as General Mills and supermarkets such as Safeway have recalled products, and yesterday Clif Bars and Luna Bars made with peanut butter were the latest to be recalled, in the following flavors and "best by" dates:

Clif Bar Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch

BEST BY/SELL BY: 21JUN09 to 01OCT09, and 03NOV09 to 28NOV09

Clif Bar Crunchy Peanut Butter
BEST BY/SELL BY: 21JUN09 to 01OCT09, and 03NOV09 to 28NOV09

Clif Bar Peanut Toffee Buzz
BEST BY/SELL BY: only 13SEP09

ZBaR Peanut Butter
BEST BY/SELL BY: 07JUL09 to 05SEP09, and 12NOV09

Clif Builders Peanut Butter
BEST BY/SELL BY: 19JUL09 to 30SEP09, and 05NOV09 to 18NOV09

Luna Nutz over Chocolate
BEST BY/SELL BY: 29JUL09 to 03OCT09, 11NOV09 to 14NOV09

Luna Peanut Butter Cookie
BEST BY/SELL BY: 02OCT09 to 03OCT09, and 11NOV09 to 14NOV09

All Clif Mojo Bars
BEST BY/SELL BY: 30APR09 to 21JUN09

(photo: Associated Press)

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Food, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Recalls
        

With all the excitement surrounding the Obama inauguration events in Washington, we here at Consuming Interests want to remind you of other ways to participate in some of the celebration.

Several restaurants and the Enoch Pratt Free Library are hosting inauguration viewing parties in Baltimore today. 

U.S. residents can stop by Krispy Kreme locations to get free Krispy Kreme doughnut on Inauguration Day. 

Wondering where the closest shop is? Check out the store locator at http://www.krispykreme.com/storelocator.html. 

(photo: Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

There may be thousands of Baltimore residents in a situation similar to the one Schuyler Denham was in.

As we described in this week's Watchdog, Denham had received an environmental citation in October and wanted to contest it, so he requested a hearing before Baltimore's Environmental Control Board. 

Unfortunately, he never received information with a hearing date, although he continued to receive notices about the unpaid fine. 

If you, too, had requested a hearing but have not received one ...

... call the board and make sure they received your request. The board's staff has experienced a scheduling backlog since October but the fine letters are sent out automatically if the fine is unpaid and a hearing is not scheduled.

Even though the notice states that the fines triple, those extra amounts will be rescinded once a hearing is set, the executive director of the board said. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Watchdog
        

I don't know you all have missed Excellent Eileen Ambrose as much as we have here in the newsroom, but she's been out of the office for a few days.

She did leave behind some wonderful tips for The Sun's Riding out the Recession feature, including finding stocks that are actually producing dividends in the economic downturn and how to maximize coupon savings to tide us over until she gets back.

Watchdog is particularly exciting this week, if you've been on the receiving end of an environmental citation from a Baltimore inspector recently.

Don't want to give too much away, but please check out the piece Sunday.

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Watchdog
        

Consumer updates for your mid-afternoon perusing:

1. It's official: Circuit City is liquidating stock at its remaining stores. But are liquidation sales a good deal? Not necessarily, according to this Chicago Tribune columnist. Be sure to comparison shop and confirm you're getting the best price.

And beware, because you won't be able to return products to a defunct retailer.

2. Christian Bernard Jewelers, which has several Montgomery County locations, has declared bankruptcy. The CT Watchdog at the Hartford Courant posted pun-laden quotes from the Connecticut Attorney General warning about Christian Bernard Jewelers.

3. Did you sign up for the cosmetics settlement? I did, and got an e-mail last week instructing me which free cosmetic products I can pick up ... on Jan. 20, which happens to be Inauguration Day. For people in this area who will be navigating presidential traffic, good luck picking yours up. Folks elsewhere, enjoy your Clarins Beauty Flash Bomb (I think they meant Clarins Beauty Flash *Balm*).

4. Sorry about the free coffee tease earlier this week, but here's a better offer for U.S. residents. Get a free Krispy Kreme doughnut on Inauguration Day.

(photo: Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Shopping
        

* Bejeweled: a game

* Classics: a book app

* College Football and Pro Football: follow the big games

* Everest: a game, race to the top of Mt. Everest

* Flixster: for local movie showtimes, DVD releases

* Facebook: very user-friendly on the iPhone * iFarkle: a dice game

* i.TV: for browsing thousands of movie, DVD and TV show listings, plus buying movie tix online and managing your NetFlix queue.

* Koi Pond: Turns your iPhone into a lovely pond filled with fish.

* Labyrinth: a game.

* Mr. Trivia: trivia app; one for kids, too.

* Ocarina: turns your iPhone into a flute. Yes, a flute.

* Pandora: free Internet radio

* Sextuple: a word game

* Sol Free: a solitaire card game

* Stanza: an ebook reader

* Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: a.k.a. the Lightsaber app. Emulates the sounds, motion of a light saber.

* Tangram Pro: a puzzle game

* Yahtzee: a game; need I explain?

* Zippo Lighter: turn your iPhone into a Zippo Lighter, wave it at rock concerts

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: iPhone
        

The Sun's travel section offered several tips to help save on travel costs in the new year.

First off, don't forget to include Greyhound in your quest for cut-price bus service, as you hunt down Megabus deals and others.

Definitely, there's benefits to planning ahead when it comes to bus travel. Greyhound is slashing prices on advance purchases for adult tickets by 20 percent, and there are deals for companion fares as well.  

There's also some great advice about travel resolutions we should make for 2009 ...

... by LA Times colleague Jane Engle. She warns us to be aware of bankruptcies that affect travel companies, including airlines, cruise lines and the like and to plan for extra fees tacked onto everything from checked bags to hotel rooms and rental cars, as well as sign up for e-mailed offers to take advantage of last-minute savings.

Her last two tips --- tracking the U.S. dollar, and how that might impact prices overseas, and not to dillydally when getting a U.S. passport --- are also great advice. New security rules take effect June 1 and you don't pay extra fees to expedite your application if you can take care of this today!

(photo: Elizabeth Malby/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Travel
        

Here's a heads up if you live within proximity of Weis Markets:

The Pennsylvania-based chain, which has eight stores in Perry Hall, Laurel, Pasadena, Woodstock, Hampstead, Westminster and Odenton, has lowered and frozen prices on thousands of everyday grocery items through April 1.

According to Consumer Reports' Tightwad Tod, the stores actually discounted prices before they were frozen, shaving 50 cents or more off items as basic as chicken breasts, cereal and more. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

Boy, my inbox --- and Watchdog's --- has been flooded with comments from people all over the Baltimore area with complaints about Comcast cable wires installed through their lawns, driveways and even across roadways.

It even made it to Consumerist, where commenters reminded me that there remains yet another forum for customers and non-customers affected by the practices of Comcast and other cable services to voice their opinion.

Each county and Baltimore city maintains franchise contract with the cable providers that deliver services within their boundaries and so have some limited oversight over them. If you've tried calling Comcast and have not gotten through, perhaps it's time to file a complaint with the franchisee.

Here's the contact information for Baltimore city and the five surrounding counties:

Anne Arundel County cable television administrator: 410-222-1700

Baltimore city --- Office of Cable and Communications: 410-396-1100

Baltimore County County Council: 410-396-8137

Carroll County cable regulatory commission: 410-386-2095

Harford County: 410-638-3343

Howard County Office of Cable and Communications --- cable administrator: 410-313-3318

UPDATE: Some readers *have* had success resolving Comcast problems by sending an e-mail to We_can_help@cable.comcast.com. If you use the social networking system Twitter, you can also follow them and send messages www.twitter.com/comcastcares.

And while you're there, follow ConsumInterests while you're at it! 

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Watchdog
        

Last week, I wrote about why iCaved and bought the iPhone, and my initial "first-48-hours" impression of this decadent piece of gadgetry.

Yeah, yeah, I raved about the juvenile goofiness and silly splendor of the iFart application, which turns your iPhone into a fart gag and is one of the top selling apps right now. Last weekend, I was playing with it while hanging with friends at Red Canoe, a quaint bookstore in Lauraville, when I think I grossed some people out before I showed them it was really just my iPhone. (If you frown upon such sophomoric gags, then you can commiserate with Kara Swisher over at the veritable Wall Street Journal, who calls the iFart "toddler programming.")

Silly, nonsensical apps aside, readers were very helpful in pointing me to a ton of free (or cheap) apps in the iPhone's App Store that they like to use. So I thought it would be useful (for myself and for you) to compile all the recommendations into two blog posts: The Useful (Part 1) and The Fun (Part 2)

Without further iDo, I mean, ado, here are The Useful ones, in alphabetical order. Just hit the jump for the list. If you like an app that's not on the list, let us know with a comment (Note to spammers and guerilla marketers: no self-promoting here.) 

Some of the apps below are free, some are paid:

* AirSharing: for wirelessly sharing files between home and work

* Amazon.com: for buying directly from one of the biggest sites on the web.

* Ambiance: generates white noise or other sounds to set a mood

* AP Mobile News: Associated Press's iPhone app

* AroundMe: for finding stores, restaurants, stuff to do near you

* Bank of America: mobile banking

* EBay: for accessing the online auction site

* ForeFlight: preflight intelligence" for airplane pilots

* FStream: for live-streaming audio, including police scanner transmissions!

* GoodRec: a user-generated recommendation community

* Google: voice-search app and several other Google products, including Google Reader and Goog Earth (for satellite views and location-finding, i.e. looking for pizza places near you? Google Earth will find them.

* iHandyToolkit: turns your iPhone into a handy level and four other tools. Used by Liz Kay!

* Instapaper: capture webpages on your computer and automatically sync with your phone for reading later

* iStockManager: manage your brokerage account at TD Waterhouse

* Jott: voice-to-text service. for dictating emails, text messages, notes, etc.

* MobileFiles: move files between computer and iPhone without Wi-Fi

* MyLists: a list generator for your organizing needs

* PhoneFlix: manage your NetFlix account

* Pinger: for managing voice, email, text and social media within one app

* Remote: Turn your iPhone into a remote control for iTunes and AppleTV

* SaveBenji's: a price comparison app

* Shazam: identifies whatever music you're listening to, in case you don't know the artist

* ShoppingList: handy for grocery shopping

* Snaptell: take a picture of a book cover, CD or videogame and get reviews and comparison prices at retailers

* Things: task management

* Tipstar: helps you calculate tips

* Tipulator: another tip-calculator

* UrbanSpoon: helps you find local restaurants with a shake of the phone

* Vlingo: voice recognition for mobile apps

* WeDict: a dictionary and thesaurus program

* Wikipanion: for direct access to Wikipedia

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 4:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: iPhone
        

Big Lots Stores Inc. and Dollar General Corporation have ceased selling Elmo's Take-Along Card Games, a card game and backpack set, in Maryland stores after a Maryland Attorney General's office investigation revealed high levels of lead paint.

The state department of the environment tested the toys and discovered the high lead paint levels, and Attorney General Douglas Gansler followed with a letter to the two companies.

Both stores agreed to stop selling the toys and to offer refunds to anyone who brings the toys back for a return, as well as post information in the store about the recall.

The Sesame Street toy was mentioned in several news reports last year about excessive lead paint levels in toys.

According to a 2007 Hartford Courant article, the toy contained almost 10,000 parts per million in the Red Elmo bag. The federal recall standard of 600 parts per million.

Update: the AG's office has also alerted the Consumer Product Safety Commission about their findings. 

Since these items showed up at the dollar store, it's all got to make you ask: what do people do with returned recalled toys?  

According to this Christian Science Monitor Q&A that answers the question about where recalled toys go:

"... historically only about 6 percent of recalled toys are returned.

For those that do come back, Mattel sells or reuses the zinc and some of the resins they contain, and then recycles as many of the other components as possible, sending the lead to companies that specialize in the safe disposal of hazardous materials.

But what of the 94 percent of the recalled lead-tainted toys that don’t make it back to Mattel? Many of them, no doubt, found a comfortable home with a child somewhere long before word of the recall – ignored or missed by parents – got out. Of the remaining toys, some of those that were recalled in the summer of 2007 ended up on auction websites like eBay and business-to-business sites like Made-in-China.com – and then eventually into the hands of unwitting consumers, many of them overseas."

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety
        

... if you live in the United Kingdom, that is.

Any expatriate readers of Consuming Interests out there? Pigtown, I'm talking to you!

Krispy Kreme was one of several American companies that had offered Election Day incentives for people who voted.

But some were getting into trouble because voting rules that prohibit people from being paid to cast a ballot.

So, Krispy Kreme is offering a free medium Americano to their U.K. customers if they come into a location and say "Yes we can!" from now until Friday, Jan. 16.

Traveling in the next few days and thinking about snagging some free java during a layover? Sorry, folks ... the offer's not valid at Krispy Kremes at Luton Airport, Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport, Heathrow T3 or Heathrow T5, nor the one at the Waterloo Tube Station. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Odds & Ends
        

Safeway supermarkets have become the latest chain to jump on the bandwagon and to offer a 14-day supply of free generic antibiotics to customers through March 31, following the lead set by Giant and Wegmans.

Now, Consumer Reports' health blog warns that antibiotics should be used only when necessary. The planet already has a big problem with antibiotic resistance and the drugs aren't even effective on viral infections.

And remember, this is, like all promotions, an attempt to attract you to the store and spend money on something else. The director of CR's health ratings center writes that people could really benefit from free medication for high blood pressure, for example, but that's a chronic condition. Antibiotics are taken only for a short period of time.

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Healthcare
        

If you purchased a Dell computer or service after April 1, 2005, here's a heads up: you can apply for your share of a Dell settlement negotiated with 34 states, including Maryland.

Attorneys general from these states contended that Dell and its financial arm told consumers about zero-percent financing and then charged them higher interest rates. In addition, the company didn't adequately tell consumers the terms to apply for rebates or limitations on technical support and repair policies.

The company did not admit wrongdoing, but agreed to pay $1.5 million in restitution to consumers who were affected. It will also pay states to reimburse them for the legal and investigative costs.

Dell will also:

-- tell people that most won't qualify for their best annual percentage rate, and tell them the range they may qualify for;

-- inform customers of the terms of financing, including that it's a revolving credit account with minimum payments just like a credit card; 

-- tell customers that telephone trouble-shooting will be required before Dell will send someone for on-site repair under warranty;

-- provide necessary rebate information when the product is delivered; 

-- mail rebates within a specified time frame, or 30 days is none is specified. 

To apply for restitution:

... file a claim against Dell with the Consumer Protection Division of the state attorney general's office.

Request a claim form by calling 410-576-6569 or by writing to:

Consumer Protection Division, attn: Dell Claims

200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor

Baltimore, MD 21202.  

Claims must be postmarked no later than April 13, 2009.
 

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Computers, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Technology
        

Baltimore Clayworks is offering jobless people a chance to try its pottery and sculpture classes for free, starting in February.

The non-profit arts organization wants to provide the unemployed a creative outlet and a cheerful place to be during stressful times, according to a news release.

There are 35 spots available, and classes start the week of Feb. 8. 

The classes are scheduled during weekend, evening and daytime hours and meet for three hours once a week over 12 weeks. 

Ordinarily classes would cost members $325 (updated) $345 per session. Students *will* have to purchase 25 pounds of clay, at $13.50 plus tax, as well as pay approximately $30 for tools and "final firing" sessions.

To enroll ...

... applicants must bring written proof of unemployment status and photo ID to Clayworks' main offices at 5707 Smith Ave., Mount Washington.The office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 

For more information, call 410-578-1919, ext. 10 or 16. 

(photo: Andre Chung/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Folks, it's no secret that there are hard economic times ahead, but The Sun wants to help.

Every day we'll be sharing news and advice about dealing with the downturn at baltimoresun.com/livingforless --- tips on how to save your cash and where to stash it once you've gotten it.

You know we here at Consuming Interests always share cheap tips when they come our way, but we're always looking for suggestions, so please e-mail us with ideas.

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Economy
        

The Maryland Transportation Authority wants to charge monthly E-ZPass fees to recover the costs of the electronic toll collection program.

Commuters, of course, benefit from frequent-use discounts, but for occasional users it amounts to an increase in their toll costs. 

Although the news received a lot of negative reaction on this blog, data from other agencies indicates that few drivers abandon their transponders as a result of fees, according to a story by Michael Dresser.

The transponder batteries run out after about seven years, the article states, and users will have to pay $21 to replace them.

Comments can be e-mailed to mdtatollrates@mdta.state.md.us or to

Ronald L. Freeland, Executive Secretary

Maryland Transportation Authority

2310 Broening Highway, Suite 150

Baltimore, Md. 21224

(photo: Associated Press)

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Cars, Cheap/Frugal
        

If your child's 529 plan investments took a nosedive last year, you'll have an additional chance to consider switching things up a bit, Excellent Eileen told us Sunday.

Usually you can make changes only once a year to a 529 plan, but this year investors will have two opportunities. Eileen warns, however, that just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

You might "lock in your losses" if you switch to less volatile, more conservative options and the market bounces back, she points out.

Whether you should make changes will depend largely on your child's age.

If you have a younger child, you have the time to ride the ups and downs of a fairly aggressive stock portfolio. And stocks still manage to provide the best returns over the long haul.

The difficult choice will be for families whose children are a year or two from college. Do you stay put with your investments, or not?

... a reader contacted us in December with a Comcast problem that was affecting her neighborhood. More than a year ago, technicians installed temporary cables that didn't run underground but rather across two driveways in her Hanover community.

I asked Ms. Frantz to contact We_can_help@cable.comcast.com, the e-mail address on Comcast's Twitter page, and the company responded to the e-mail asking for her specific address on or around Dec. 17. However, no repairs were made by the time Frantz returned from her holiday travels.

A few e-mails from Watchdog got the repairs completed, and Frantz herself agrees that the temporary cables didn't affect her service, although they were definitely an eyesore. I'm left wondering whether it was the holiday timing or something else that left her request low on the priority list.

Have you had luck contacting the Comcast Cares e-mail address? If so, let us know!

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Budgeting, Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, College/Financial aid, Investments, Warranties
        

This week's Watchdog offered an opportunity to test Comcast's customer service.

Now, Watchdog focuses on solving problems in your neighborhood --- street lights out, faded crosswalks, abandoned vehicles. Generally the folks who can solve those problems are city, state or county departments and agencies.

Occasionally, however, an issue in a neighborhood prompts us to contact private companies such as BGE or Comcast or CSX, and so I used this week's situation as an opportunity to test the response to the We_can_help@cable.comcast.com e-mail address that we told you about last year.

Stay tuned to discover how the reader fared when sharing her plight.

(photo: Elizabeth Malby/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Watchdog
        

It's a busy day for your scribes here at Consuming Interests, but we wanted to be sure you didn't miss Amazing Andrea K. Walker's story about recession deals and discounts designed to lure in customers who don't have a lot of ready cash.

Here's a link to the economy-proof menu at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and a list of dining deals courtesy of Baltimore.org, including many specials not directly tied to the poor state of the economy.

Check out the story and please share any others you may spot.

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Folks, I have an amazing cheap tip for you! You should all go rush out and buy lots of stuff, when it's discounted 6 percent!

Sorry about the sarcasm above, but you *won't* save a lot of money if the National Retail Federation gets its way and finagles three tax holidays in 2009.

Sun business columnist and blogger Jay Hancock describes them as one of many industry groups advocating for a government bailout, this time in the form of 10-day tax-free shopping stints.

Seriously, there are unfortunately many things that make me shake my fist in the air in aggravation --- adjacent strip malls with bad pedestrian access between them, licorice in my herbal tea, inconsiderate street parkers --- and sales tax holidays are high on that list.

Sales taxes were *not* what prevented people from shelling out big bucks during the holiday season, and stuff was marked down in some cases as much as 75 to 80 percent! So why buy stuff when it's only discounted 6 percent --- the state's sales tax rate?!

It's not even that great a deal for retailers, and especially not for the federal government, Hancock says: 

"Consumers would just switch shopping from taxable weeks to nontaxable ones. Stores would raise prices, pocketing what's normally collected by government. Washington would have to reimburse states for billions in lost revenue,"

he wrote in his column.

Tax holidays are kinda billed as sticking it to The Man. But it's just a different Man sticking it to you, by getting you to buy things. Don't succumb!

(photo: Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun) 

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Shopping, Taxes
        

Here's a good reason to renew your passion for the library.

I've complained in the past about my inability to return books and other materials by their due date, incurring library fines, despite the wonderfully permissive Maryland library system that allows us to bring items back to any branch statewide.

After realizing I had earned myself yet another overdue notice, marvelous editor Michelle mentioned a tip she had discovered at the Towson branch of the Baltimore County libraries:

Your librarian can renew your books immediately, as you check them out, earning yourself an extra three weeks to read and peruse those books --- a total of six weeks, rather than the standard 21 days!

Of course, you *still* have to get yourself back to a library branch within that extended time frame to return the books ... but it's one way to forestall what for me has turned out to be the inevitable.

As a child, my organized and frugal father was understandably perturbed by my inability to keep track of all the books I would check out.

He made me count them as soon as we got home and put that number on the due date on the calendar, so we could verify we had all the items before we went back. We also designated a special bookshelf in our house where library books would go, so they don't get misplaced when it's time to bring them back --- a variation on this library book tip from Parenthacks I found via Lifehacker.

If your branch gives you a receipt, you could leave it in the designated location to do an inventory when the due date rolls around.

Why do libraries charge fines in the first place? Does the cost of notifying patrons and collecting those fines make it worth it?

When I was in college, the university decided the materials themselves were more valuable than the little money in fines they were able to collect. So, instead of charging a penalty, they just started denying future check-outs until overdue materials were returned. If I remember correctly, you left campus, they'd hold onto your diploma.

But 15 percent of the Baltimore County libraries budget is derived from fines. Go figure.

An eHow user has compiled a good list of ways to avoid library fines as well. 

(photo: Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The last year has been tough on many people. Many people work in industries increasingly shaken by the recession, and even if you aren't, you've been squeezed by higher prices for essentials such as food and fuel.

That's why ING Direct's wethesavers.com site, with its Declaration of Financial Independence, was so intriguing. Click the link to "sign" the statement along with more than 500 other Marylanders.

The ideas are simple, such as spend less than you earn; protect your credit by paying bills on time and borrowing only when necessary; invest for the long term and in what is important; avoid waste and consumption and advocate for consumer rights.

However, some of these statements would be difficult to execute if you're already in dire straits, financially speaking. But you've got to start somewhere.

What would you include in your own financial guidelines, a framework to use when making decisions about allocating money, time, effort and energy? 

(photo: Nanine Hartzenbusch/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal
        

Got the sniffles from a sinus infection or other ailments curable by antibiotics? Don't spend your precious cash filling that prescription or even covering the co-pay.

Two local supermarket chains have announced they will fill prescriptions for generic antibiotics for free.

Yes, you can stop off at Giant for free antibiotics before March 21 or Wegmans to fill a prescription free before March 31.

Got other recurring prescription drug costs for non-generics? 

Don't forget to compare prescription drug prices at local pharmacies using the Maryland Attorney General's prescription drug cost comparison tool.

(photo: Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Healthcare
        

Just following up on some questions that came up during yesterday's passionate discussion of the Maryland Transportation Authority's proposal to charge a $1.50 monthly "account maintenance fee" for E-ZPass users, starting in July.

Will they refund my balance if I cancel? Yes.

Why not use the interest earned on unspent money in my account to reduce costs? They already do, said Michael Dresser, The Sun's transportation reporter and Getting There columnist. The interest offsets the fees charged by credit card companies each time an E-ZPass is replenished.

How will this additional fee be spent? The money goes into the MdTA budget. They will use it for a number of things, including paying the vendor who provides the E-ZPass service. 

Doesn't E-ZPass save money by eliminating the need to have human toll collectors and just generally being more efficient? Yes, but those cost savings haven't come quickly, Dresser said. The transportation folks had to invest money both in subsidizing the user cost to encourage people to adopt the new technology as well as make capital improvements such as building new lanes and other infrastructure to support it. And it's not like they fired half the state's cadre of toll collectors overnight --- eliminations of those positions came gradually, by attrition.

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Cars, Cheap/Frugal
        

This Consumer Web Site of the Week will help you, your friends and neighbors avoid falling victim to fake check scams ... situations where crooks convince unsuspecting people to cash a bad check and wire the money somewhere.

The take-home message from fakechecks.org? When you cash a check, *you* are on the hook for covering the cash if it turns out it's fake. 

Check out the site for some excellent fake check scam fraud tests and video interviews with victims --- intelligent people like you who have been duped. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer Web Site of the Week, Consumer protection, Scams
        

Unfortunately, there were plenty of candidates contending for dubious honors last year in Consuming Interests' first Naughtiest Business of the Year contest.

Since we initiated the feature in June, we've told you about livestock auctions selling downer cows and credit repair site crackdowns, data breaches by companies as varied as Forever 21 and BNY Mellon, and counterfeit drugs sold at Baltimore pharmacies.

Then again, there were the national scandals ---- the Countrywide officials who gave VIPs favorable rates, even Macy's, which charged some customers twice for Christmas purchases. And shrinking packages when the prices remain the same for less product.

And we heard a lot from you after posts about Citigroup raising credit card interest rates, the auto warranty calls that never stop and phantom Passport to Fun charges, which really aren't entertaining at all.  

But the 2008's Naughtiest Business is (drum roll, please) ...

... Blue Hippo, a company that makes its money selling computers and electronic equipment to people with little or no credit. And they win despite in 2007 settling with the Maryland Attorney General's office for violating the Consumer Protection Act for unfair and deceptive trade actions.

People continue to post sad, sad stories about their experiences buying computers from Blue Hippo --- I mean, trying to buy electronics. Many tell us that they have paid and paid but have not received the products they ordered, and the company refuses to issue a refund.

Plus, as this BusinessWeek story about Blue Hippo describes, if people actually receive their products, they find out it's out-of-date equipment that would retail for far less than they ultimately pay to Blue Hippo. As with many big-ticket items, these customers would have been better off saving the money themselves rather than pay toward the promise of receiving a computer faster.

So, if someone asks you about Blue Hippo, be sure to share these stories with them.

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Didn’t get an economic stimulus check last year? Or, maybe your rebate check was smaller than the maximum amount?

If so, you may be eligible for rebate recovery.

The Internal Revenue Services announced today that taxpayers will be able to recover a rebate if they are now eligible for the money, but weren’t before.

The maximum amount is $600 for individuals; $1,200 for couples. Plus, parents can receive up to $300 per qualified child.

The stimulus payments were based on financial information that appeared on 2007 returns, although technically it was a 2008 credit. So, if your financial situation changed last year, you might be eligible for the rebate if before you didn’t qualify.

For instance, if you had a child in 2008, you could get an extra $300. Or, if your income in 2007 was too high to qualify for the rebate, you might be eligible now if your earnings fell last year. Also, if you were ineligible because you were a dependent, but no longer, you can qualify for the rebate.

To recover the rebate, you will need to file a 2008 form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ.

You can calculate the “recovery rebate credit” yourself using the instruction work sheet that comes with the forms. The IRS also  will offer an online calculator to figure out if you’re eligible for the money and how much. It's not up yet, but the IRS is offering other information online.

Or, you can have the IRS do it by following the instructions under “Credit Figured by IRS.” Tax software programs will automatically calculate the credit.

If you received a partial rebate lat year, you will need to include that amount.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tax rebates
        

I hope you've already applied for your digital television converter coupon, if you have an older television and rely on over-the-air broadcast signals to watch your favorite shows after Feb. 17.

The federal government has started a waitlist for digital television converter coupons because the program hitting a $1.34 billion funding limit set by Congress, according to the story.

Anyone who applies after Sunday (Jan. 4) won't get a $40 coupon of their own until some of the ones already issue expire without being redeemed, returning some of that cash into the system.

Already, there are about 103,000 requests are on the list, so officials with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, part of the Commerce department, are telling people not to wait. 

Here's a refresher on who needs a converter: 

1. Do you have a television that was purchased after 2004? You probably don't need a converter, but read this post for more information about how to determine whether your television has a digital tuner.

2. Do you subscribe to cable or satellite television? You don't need a converter. Your cable service will continue to provide analog service. Sure, your cable provider may move some channels from analog cable to digital cable at any time, but a converter won't help you.

Find more answers to questions about the digital television transition at Consuming Interests.

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Digital television, Technology
        

iFart jokes aside, some have asked about my impressions of the iPhone. Really now -- what more is there to know beyond having the ability to turn a $200 cutting-edge digital device into a source of juvenile humor?

Alright, if you insist, here is my experience with it in my first two days of ownership:

First off, there's so much I have not yet done with this phone. I have not yet "synched" it with my Mac desktop at home, so I can download some music from iTunes and add Address book contacts and some personal photos. I also have hardly used the actual phone part of the iPhone, so I can't really comment yet about the AT&T service in the Baltimore area.

I have, however, put the unlimited use of data/Internet to the test, and used AT&T 3G network and my own Wi-Fi hotspot network at my house. In short, the iPhone is a powerful little device. Though I hesitate to call it a "mini-computer," it sure acts like one in many ways. Regarding the AT&T 3G network, I'm finding that its speeds and capacity are satisfactory and, in some instances, have worked quite well.

For this newspaper, I cover breaking news and yesterday, I found myself driving to two different homicide scenes in Baltimore. (I took the photo above with my iPhone, while waiting at a stoplight on Greenmount Ave. in East Baltimore.) I know the city very well, but I decided to test the Maps/GPS function anyway. The 3G network allowed me to follow my route on my iPhone, without a hitch. It made me think that my $300-plus GPS unit my wife gave me as a birthday present was pretty much unnecessary now. I was able to shoot photos of crime scenes, easily email them to my editor, and check news updates very quickly.

Checking email for multiple accounts is also fast, with just a few touches to toggle between different email addresses. The user-interface is as straightforward, intuitive, and idiot-proof as they come in the realm of smartphones. Being a tad geekish, I actually don't mind reading user manuals, but so far, I have yet to refer to a user manual to figure out how to do something I wanted to do.

Using the iPhone's built-in Wi-Fi capability really allows the phone to shine as an Internet device. The download speeds on my home DSL-linked Wi-Fi network were comparable to my experience on my desktop computer. I spent last evening surfing the Web while sitting on my couch and chatting with my wife (okay, I did do more surfing than chatting, but I promise, honey, I'll put the iPhone down tonight.) With a new baby in our house, I find myself so grateful to have this little device, because it's so easy to use in one hand, while I hold my sweet baby girl in the other.

Also, with grandparents and other family constantly clamoring for photos, I am taking photos and quickly sending them out -- again, while I hold my daughter in my arm. Last night, during bath time, I pulled up a video of Sesame Street's Ernie singing the Rubber Ducky song. While the song/video played, I propped the iPhone on the bathroom sink. My wife and I sang along and gave my daughter a bath. The speakers on the phone are surprisingly good, and certainly more than adequate for baby bathtime in my rowhouse's tiny bathroom.

What has quickly distinguished the iPhone from its competitors is the huge growth in third-party applications that the company has allowed users to download and use. Most of the apps are either free or cheap, in the 99-cent to $2.99 range. And some of the apps -- I'm thinking the Facebook and the Google suite of apps -- are designed with such fluidity that they "feel" as good as the regular websites.

I'm eager to test and download more apps because I'm finding that the explosion of software built on the iPhone platform not only makes the phone a tough cellphone/smartphone competitor -- but it will also make people think about whether they need to shell out bucks on other digital/Internet devices, or just download a cheap app for the iPhone that does pretty much the same thing.

My two complaints -- which had prevented me from buying the iPhone in the past -- was that Apple still prevents it from watching Flash video and recording video, too. Sure, we have access to some YouTube videos. But I also like to watch videos on other sites, such as Hulu.com and Viddler.com. (Apple chief Steve Jobs has said in the past that the Flash video experience isn't up to Apple's standards. Adobe apparently is working on developing a Flash player for the iPhone, but they reportedly need "buy-in" from Apple.)

Let's hope that Apple and Flash come to some kind of resolution, out of respect for those of us who shelled out $200 to $300 for an iPhone and want it able to surf the WHOLE Internet, including most video sites, which use Flash.

Also, I shoot a lot of video, for both work and personal, so having an iPhone that could take video would be extremely helpful, Mr. Jobs. If I didn't already have a video camera, I probably wouldn't be an iPhone owner today.

After all that's said and done, it's been a fun first 48 hours with my iPhone. I can't remember the last time I was so excited to play with a gadget. As a youngster, I remember people talking about the future and how we'd all be using little gadgets that wirelessly connected us to the world, to people, and to information. Well, I'm grown up now -- and the future is here. I've got it right here in my pocket.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, iPhone
        

The Maryland Transportation Authority is proposing charging E-ZPass customers a $1.50 monthly administrative fee to use the transponders to pay tolls electronically, starting in July.

E-ZPass is convenient for drivers for many reasons. Not only can you wave at the poor schmoes wasting precious gas idling on their way up to the toll booth --- you also don't need exact change or any cash at all. Even Sun columnist Kevin Cowherd became a convert.

Tolls for truck drivers would also go up, and new or replacement transponders will cost $21, according to the story.

The fee proposal (updated: and other increases) would bring $60 million into state coffers at a time when revenues are dropping and maintenance of everything is going up.

Here's what I want to know: with revenues already going down, won't adding an administrative fee to this toll collection service further discourage drivers?

Transportation reporter and Getting There columnist Michael Dresser told inquiring colleagues that ...

...MdTA has not proposed any toll discounts in exchange for your monthly fee. Also, you could try signing up for E-ZPass in a state that doesn't charge a fee, but Dresser sez that most states are moving in this direction.

At least Maryland isn't proposing upping the cost of individual tolls for passenger vehicles, but you'd think that the authority would still be trying to encourage more people to use the automated lanes rather than the regular lanes staffed by humans who must be paid salaries and given health insurance.

The MdTA is accepting public comment on this idea through Jan. 27 before voting Jan. 29. According to the story,

comments can be sent to mdtatollrates@mdta.state.md.us or to Ronald L. Freeland, Executive Secretary, Maryland Transportation Authority, 2310 Broening Highway, Suite 150, Baltimore, Md. 21224.

UPDATE: Dresser's story about the proposed E-ZPass fees and toll increases indicates that the state initially subsidized the E-ZPass program to get drivers to sign up. There are now about half a million Maryland accounts since we joined in 2001:

[Transportation Secretary John D.] Porcari said the authority determined that "now that E-ZPass has broad market penetration and is a proven time-saver," its users should cover the costs of their participation. He said that includes the $1.50 "account maintenance" charge, which will be used to compensate the contractor who handles E-ZPass billing, and the roughly $21 cost to the state of issuing a standard transponder.

Do you have E-ZPass? Will you give up the convenience of electronic toll collection to avoid the fee? 

UPDATED, Jan. 7: Check out the answers to some of the E-ZPass questions asked by readers in the comments below.

(photo: Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (105)
Categories: Cars, Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

After coveting this little device for awhile, I finally jumped in yesterday and bought an 8 gigabyte iPhone, over at the AT&T store at Towson Town Center. In recent weeks, I couldn't help but notice the explosive (hehe) growth in iPhone applications that the tech-geek community has developed for this smartphone, which I really think of as a super-mini computer.

So what finally pushed me over the edge? I have to say, it was news of the iFart Mobile App. Yes, a small 99 cent program that turns a sophisticated computing device into something truly useful -- a veritable fart machine -- is what lured me in. It's been one of the hottest selling apps among thousands currently available for the iPhone. Note to Steve Jobs: fart gags sell. And farting iPhones sell, too.

Just this morning, I managed to trick a co-worker into thinking I had -- how shall I put this? --  serious gastrointestinal issues. The look on her face was priceless, as she tried hard not to laugh while I fictitiously complained about not feeling well. For a brief moment, I had reconnected with my inner 13-year-old. (Interested in an updated review of my iPhone experience, see my post on my first 48 hours with the device.)

Of course, you don't need to buy an iPhone for fart gags. (Anybody still use a whoopee cushion? I did recently, until my cats tore it up. I'm not letting them anywhere near my farting iPhone.)

I've also downloaded other presumably useful applications, which all happen to be free. They include Pandora (free Internet radio); UrbanSpoon (helps you find local restaurants with a shake of the phone); Shazam (identifies whatever music you're listening to, in case you don't know the artist); Facebook's mobile app (which is very user-friendly on the iPhone) and Google Earth (for satellite views and location-finding, i.e. looking for pizza places near you? Google Earth will find them.)

So, if you're an iPhone user, are there applications you'd recommend? Which ones do you think are the best free ones vs. the best paid ones? And the best for entertainment purposes (i.e. iFart) vs. the most useful? As an iNewbie, I'd appreciate your tips and suggestions.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Technology
        

Eileen's Sunday column highlights some of the financial lessons we've learned (or been forced to learn) in 2008.

The events of the year really reinforces why financial gurus advise maintaining an emergency fund for unexpected expenses, investing only long-term money in the stock market (nothing you'd need within five years) and to expect risk in all investments --- even real estate.

Some of these concepts might not have been as clear during the boom years, but 2008 definitely put things in perspective.

There are still some questions that remain unanswered in this week's Watchdog, however ...

... in which we tried to find out why lights along the Harbor Promenade in Fells Point were never activated after they were installed in 2006.

According to this Maryland Daily Record story, Baltimore's Harbor Promenade now stretches nearly six miles along the waterfront from Canton to the new Ritz-Carlton residences in Federal Hill. 

The pathway, a right-of-way that's incorporated into new developments, is heavily used by runners, dogwalkers, tourists and people who just want to get a breath of fresh air.

But street lamps along a small section of the path between The Crescent apartments and Thames Street were never turned on, leaving pedestrians in the dark.

We touched base with a perennial Watchdog star, Transportation spokeswoman Adrienne Barnes, because that department maintains street lights around the city. Turns out that whoever installed the lights never followed the procedures to get the lights hooked up to electricity.

As of the end of last week, DOT was working with BGE to get the lights going, but Watchdog wants to know: aren't these projects inspected before they are deemed complete? Perhaps the brick pathway and benches passed muster, but those street lights would not --- not after sundown, at least.

Stay tuned next week for an update ...

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Credit cards, Retirement, Watchdog
        

Check your bank statements if you shopped at Macy's on the Saturday before Christmas.

Apparently, Macy's double-debited some customers if they paid with a debit card on Dec. 20, according to the Associated Press.

The story states that the computer glitch took place between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.

Here's what to do if you're affected:

"If they see they were double-billed, they're to fax the statement to Macy's (at 513-573-2433), with their bank account number blacked out.

Macy's says it will clear up any overcharges, as well as any bounced-check or overdraft fees customers incurred because of the problem."

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

The last tip of the day:

If you're trying to lose weight, changing your diet can be the most effective way to take off the pounds --- even more so than exercise. For most people, it's easier to eat less than to move more, according to Brian Wansink, the director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab.

He's famous for his "Mindless Eating" research, proving that many external factors affect how much people eat, no matter how hungry they think they are. Check out his facscinating research and simple ways to stop yourself from constantly munching, such as putting food away --- so you don't see it and eat it --- as well as using a smaller plate for meals, which has nothing to do with tapas.

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Here's what I forgot to mention in my earlier post about cheap exercise and fitness tips:

If you're going to start running, consider joining a running group to get some company --- and perhaps a little friendly pressure to keep on track. MarylandRunning.com has a list of Maryland running clubs as well as upcoming Maryland races.

Also, running veteran Helen suggests that new runners get a good pair of running shoes from a running store for serious athletes. Consumer Reports concurs with this advice, even though you may pay more than at a discount or department store. Experts at running stores can analyze your gait and fit you for shoes to avoid injury.

If you do decide to buy a machine, here are Consumer Reports' tips on how to choose exercise equipment.

But you don't need special equipment to build strength.

Erin Huffstetler at the Frugal Living blog recommends using canned goods for weight training or climbing stairs instead of buying a stepper. How about bottles of water? She also recommends self-checkout and cleaning your house but I'm not certain of the caloric impact of those activities ...

Here's an unusual ambition that I am toying with claiming as my own: J.D. over at Get Rich Slowly, who also blogs about his quest to Get Fit Slowly, is one of many people who have taken on the 100 Pushup Challenge --- getting to 100 pushups even if you can't even complete a single one right now.

There's something to be said for setting a goal that has nothing to do with pounds on the scale or inches around the middle.

That's what got me running regularly in 2008 --- telling enough people that I was going to run a marathon, so that if I didn't follow through, it would be extremely embarrassing.

If --- okay, when --- I do it again, though, I plan to do a lot of things differently to save money. For example, I'll sign up for the race earlier to avoid paying through the nose for registration despite my commitment and procrastination issues. I'll also pick a less major city to ease the costs of staying overnight and figure out accommodations earlier to avoid overpaying as well.

Here's more good advice from Dahlink: check your local TV listings for exercise shows that may be available, perhaps on demand whenever you can fit them in.

Services such as Netflix also offer fitness DVDs you can borrow and try out before you buy. The selection includes a broad variety of titles including Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease and Fit to Strip.

And here's a compilation of adult fitness classes at recreation centers around the Baltimore metro area: 

Anne Arundel County Recreation Winter Program Guide

Baltimore Recreation and Parks' Fall/Winter Program Guide

Baltimore County Recreation Program Guides

Carroll County Recreation Fall Program Guide

Harford County Recreation Activities

Howard County Recreation and Parks Winter Program Guide

 (photo: Elizabeth Malby/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Healthcare
        

Not an occasion worth camping out and waiting all night for, but still good to know:

If you'll be out and about between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on New Year's Day and stop into a Chick-Fil-A restaurant for a bite to eat, you'll leave with a coupon good for a free chicken biscuit.

Chicken biscuits are breakfast food in some parts of our land, and the coupon can be redeemed during breakfast hours on a subsequent visit. 

(photo: Gene Sweeney Jr/Baltimore Sun) 

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

New Year's is a popular time for people to make resolutions to take better care of themselves, but is it possible to get and stay fit without spending a ton of money?

I think we can ease more workouts into our lives without laying out a fortune --- and without investing in some exercise contraption from a late-night infomercial.

Frankly, you might be able to save money and save your health at the same time. If you spend less money on processed food in supermarkets or restaurant meals, you'll have more cash to devote to other areas of your life. Some forms of protein (beans) are cheaper and have fewer calories and fat than meat.

And what's a better alternative: paying whatever it costs to join a gym, or having to buy prescription drugs to treat conditions that some people can control through diet and exercise?

Sorry, that sounded way more preachy than is called for (and a little hypocritical for someone who hasn't laced up her sneakers in a week and a half), but you get the point.

Here's some frugal ideas for ways to get on the fitness bus without going broke:

Just walk or run. No need to purchase pricey equipment that may or may not be effective. If you can get around on your own two feet, you've got a means to incorporate aerobic exercise that only costs you whatever it will take you to set aside time to do it.

Got a packed schedule? Wake up early, try going during a lunch break, or schedule them late.

If you're ready to add a little more speed, you probably want to invest in some good running shoes and might consider signing up for a race as a goal. Over at Runner's World, they've compiled some tips for saving money on running expenses.

UPDATED: If you're thinking about running, also consider joining a running group to get some company --- and perhaps a little friendly pressure to keep coming back. MarylandRunning.com has a list of Maryland running clubs as well as upcoming Maryland races.

Head to the library. Check out workout videos or DVDs for free. With any luck, you'll remember to return it before you get bored with it.

Sign up for low-cost classes at your local recreation center. All counties surrounding Baltimore and the city itself offer cheap classes at different times --- a great option for exercise rather than signing up for a gym.  

Buy used fitness equipment. Erin Hufstetler of the Frugal Living blog recommends checking thrift stores, Craigslist and Play It Again Sports stores for used fitness equipment and sporting goods.  

Sneak in activity. Save on gas by parking in the first space you see rather than cruising around to find a space close to your destination. Or, avoid driving entirely. You could also take the stairs instead of the elevator. If walking up a flight makes you out of breath, try walking down them instead.

Of course, you should get medical advice before starting any exercise program.  And let us know what works for you!

UPDATE: be sure to check out part II of this post for even more cheap fitness and exercise tips --- including links to local recreation programs for low-cost fitness classes. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Healthcare