Monthly Archives: December 2009

On the typical day, 31% of all traffic fatalities involve a drunk driver or motorcycle rider. It’s a tragic statistic, because it means that about one-third of all traffic fatalities are preventable. Even more tragic? On New Year’s Eve, that rate climbs to 41%. For years, government agencies, non-profit groups, educators and the media have been emphasizing the dangers of driving while intoxicated. But the problem still persists, particularly on a night like New Year’s Eve. If you make just …

When you’re preparing your list of New Year’s resolutions, will you do me a favor? Please resolve to create or update your will. A 2007 Martindale-Hubbell survey found that 55% of American adults have not prepared a will. But even if you have a will, you should regularly update it. Rewrites are particularly necessary if you’re recently married or divorced, if you’ve had children since your will was originally drawn up, if your children were minors when you last wrote …

Every gift-giver has had the experience of watching someone excitedly unwrap a present, take it out of the box and discover that it’s broken. As the saying goes, the joy is in the giving. Nothing kills that joy more than realizing you’ve given a damaged or defective product, or something the recipient doesn’t need. So what can you do if Santa delivers a dud? Smart consumers will follow these rules: Save every receipt. I save all of my receipts, but …

Until a few years ago, I never knew anyone who had to file for unemployment benefits. The economy was good and jobs were plentiful. Even people who got laid off found new employment fairly quickly. But now I know dozens of people who have had to file for unemployment compensation. I’m sure you do, too. These days, talk of unemployment benefits is common place, and people who find themselves without a job quickly become well-versed in the lingo. But if …

I’m the kind of person who does a lot of research before making a significant purchase. Whether I’m buying Christmas presents for my nephew or choosing a hotel for an upcoming vacation or hiring a repairman to fix my leaky faucet, I want to make a wise purchase. I’ll read reviews, ask friends if they have personal recommendations and get price comparisons. While I enjoy spending the time to investigate potential purchases, not everyone feels the same way. I have …