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Consumerpedia, Episode 101: DEALING WITH DEBT – In this episode: practical tips for regaining control of your finances. Two consumers, now debt-free, share their personal stories of paying off substantial credit card debt through hard work and sound guidance.
AI BOOM TO RAISE PRICES FOR COMPUTERS AND SMART PHONES – Buying a computer or smartphone early in the year could save you hundreds of dollars, as manufacturers are forced to pay higher costs for memory chips in the months ahead.
Consumerpedia, Episode 100: COLLEGE OF CONSUMER KNOWLEDGE – Our celebrity contestants this time are Lisa Dent and Steve Bertrand from Chicago’s WGN Radio. Play along to test your consumer IQ. The questions are difficult! You might also want to play the online version of Checkbook’s College of Knowledge. Topics include auto, food, and your money.
HOW MARKETERS TRICK KIDS AND WHY PARENTS SHOULD WORRY – America’s children have enormous spending power. Marketers know this, which is why they spend billions of dollars a year targeting minors, sometimes in ways that are misleading, deceptive, or illegal.
VIRTUAL CREDIT CARDS HELP FIGHT FRAUD – These 16-digit numbers are a proxy for your actual card number when you shop online. The merchant or scammer who receives the virtual code never gets your credit card number.
Consumerpedia, Episode 98: THE BENEFITS OF SHOPPING LOCALLY – In this episode: The benefits of shopping at small, independent businesses, the challenges of shopping locally, ways to spend more in your community, and whether it costs more to avoid the big chain stores.
UNSAFE TOYS: HOW TO SPOT THE HIDDEN RISKS – The annual “Trouble in Toyland” report from U.S. PIRG highlights hidden dangers ranging from toxic chemicals to artificial intelligence that can engage in “disturbing conversations” with kids. A must-read before you go toy shopping.
Consumerpedia, Episode 97: SALE PRICES ARE USUALLY FAKE DISCOUNTS – Researchers at Consumers’ Checkbook tracked prices at 25 major retailers for 6 months and found that most advertised markdowns were bogus. Find out which retailers run fake sales most often.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS 2025: SAVE TIME, SAVE MONEY – Checkbook asked shopping experts for their advice on how to find the best deals and avoid the bogus sales. Plus, the smart ways (and the really costly ways) to pay for your holiday purchases.
CRYPTOCURRENCY IS MAINSTREAM BUT STILL INCREDIBLY RISKY – Despite warnings about volatility, scams, and lax regulatory oversight, digital currencies have become part of the financial mainstream. While this modern-day gold rush has made people (mostly insiders) incredibly rich, many others have lost money to scams.