Cleaning out the closets feels good, and handing the load to a charity feels even better. Come tax time, though, a bag of old coats and a box of dishes are only worth a deduction if you follow the rules. The IRS spells many of them out in Topic No. 506, Charitable Contributions, and sends … Read more
Most of us have a spot under the sink or out in the garage where the leftover stuff piles up. Half a can of paint, a jug of old antifreeze, a bag of dead batteries. Tossing it all in the trash can feels like the easy answer, but it is the wrong one. The U.S. … Read more
Packing a school lunch looks simple. Sandwich, fruit, a cookie, zip the bag and send the kids off to catch the bus. The trouble is the hours between the kitchen counter and the cafeteria table. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has plenty of advice on keeping that lunch safe, and the rules are easy to … Read more
Nobody minds a freebie. A free trial of a magazine, a streaming service, a skin cream or a gadget sounds like a nice way to test something at no cost, and that is exactly why so many people say yes in a hurry. Free is a powerful word. It makes us relax, and a relaxed … Read more
Opening the closet in the fall should be a cozy moment. You pull out the good wool sweater, and there it is: a tiny hole, then another. Clothes moths and carpet beetles love a quiet, undisturbed shelf. University of Maryland Extension and the University of Missouri Extension both explain what these pests go after and … Read more
You finally listed that dresser, the golf clubs or the old riding mower. Within an hour a buyer messages and says they want it, no haggling. That is exactly when to slow down. The Federal Trade Commission has warned for years about fake check scams, and the agency’s advice (2013) reads like a checklist for … Read more
The microwave is the hardest working appliance in most kitchens. We reheat coffee, thaw dinner and pop popcorn without a second thought. That habit is exactly why a few risky shortcuts sneak in. In its guide to what is safe to put in a microwave, Consumer Reports (2022) lays out the items that can spark, … Read more
Home warranty ads make a big promise: when the dishwasher quits or the water heater gives out, somebody else pays the bill. Consumer Reports has looked closely at these contracts, and its advice comes down to one thing, which is to read the fine print before you sign. Here are 10 costs and rules to … Read more
Yard sale season is a great excuse to clear out the garage, the attic and the kids’ old rooms. Everything has a price tag, and everything must go. Not so fast. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says its laws and regulations apply to anyone who sells or distributes consumer products, including yard sale and … Read more
Walk down the laundry aisle and you will see a wall of boxes, bottles and little bags, each promising whiter whites and softer towels. Your washer and dryer already do most of the work. Consumer Reports has tested plenty of this stuff, and its laundry coverage points to products that cost more than they deliver. … Read more