FROM THE EDITORS OF CONSUMER REPO

EXPERT INDEPENDENT NONP

New tax breaks for saving the plan et, how bite, most overlooked estate document, your will, when to consider a tru st, pap moving out of state, and more .

buying process through the shipping costs.

Note the date. If shipping is free, see when your package is ex In some cases, your purchase may not wind up for weeks.
2 CONSUMER REPORTS

Before you purchase a product online, see if spe are available to use at the e-tailer's site. Find suc retailer or brand name plus the word "coupons" such as Google. Or visit these sites:

APRIL Bridal gowns Exterior paint/stains Fitn Vacuum cleaners

4 CONSUMER REPORTS

II Pay much less for college tuiti

Your child doesn 't have to be class valedictorian to win merit-scholarship money from colleges. H child for merit money:

Pay less for life insurance co

Term life insurance rates have been dropping national average life expectancy rate has climb on life insurance premiums:
6 CONSUMER REPORTS

If your credit card balance keeps climbing and it makes you feel good, you may have a problem compulsive shopping:

Pay in cash. Try your best to avoid adding to your credit

or at a site like www.drugstore.com can save for bulk orders compared to buying at your The Food and Drug Administration recomm only from Verified Internet Pharmacy Pract
8 CONSUMER REPORTS

Ask your vet for generics, and have the prescripti stores like KV Vet Supply, Rite Aid and Costco. A as www.DrsF osterSmith.com, www. 1800PetMeds.c www.PetCareRx.com may provide pet drugs for l

 CHECK THE SALES.

A growing number of sites now offer coupons shipping and discounts. These include: www.w www.mywinesdirect.com, www. wineenthusiast. c
10 CONSUMER REPORTS

by keeping a careful list.

Inflat e t ire s.
Check your tires' air pressur e and wea if they are low and replace them if wor force your car to use mor e gas.

12 CONSUMER REPORTS

660-699 620-659 580 -619 500-579

Source : my(ico.com (06/07)

6.366% 7. 176% 8.820% 9.679%

(go to www.ftc.govand.underthe ..Consum on the "File a Complaint" tab). 4. Repair and recalculate. If a lender, insurer or other party based i error-filled report, the credit bureau is req
14 CONSUMER REPORTS

of credit may hurt your score. Watch your inquiries. Each time you apply for a loan, the len which generates what credit bureaus c

before making a choice:

Check t he term s. Before you sign up for a card, see how

16 CONSUMER REPORTS

WHA TO DO: T If your teen is finan cially respon sible, set up a card and avoid the monthly fees of prepaid ca starting college, sett ing up a prepaid card may

consider looking at the Association of Independ Counseling Agencies (www.aiccca.org) or the Na Credit Counseling (www.nfcc.org), whose memb uphold specific standards.
18 CONSUMER REPORTS

If your adult child or another relative as to pay a big bill, buy a house or star t a b help, make th e loan official to avoid tax

3. Know your rate .

The figure to focus on when borrowing percentage rate (APR), which can vary f get a quick read on the prevailing rates
20 CONSUMER REPORTS

An interest-free or ultra-low rate loan might be off your credit score qualifies and the se promotions ar

Exte nd th e lo an term. Going long on your loan term can work if you can any other way. However, resist the ur ge to go out a 48 months.

www.C

This loan may lower your payments pay period will cause the equity in yo rate and you may finish paying off th

22 CONSUMER REPORTS

4. Refuse to pay to prepay.

Don't let your bank or any other lender sell y plan where you pay extra for the privilege of

maximum contribution level, contri bution of pr and possible em ployer ma tch, which is free m on fund may make retirement savin g easier while a Roth 401(k) may be more appropriate for you. A represen tative to defin e the differences.
24 CONSUMER REPORTS

Tricks for financial do-it-yo

Common sense plays a big role in financia cases, you may be able to take on financial save a fortune in fees:

1. www.firsttrade.com 2. www.etrade.com 3. www.tradeking.com

4. www. 5. www.

26 CONSUMER REPORTS

charges generally produce highe r ret urns tha Ste p 2: Identify no -load fund s with the lowes no-loads generally are less expensive to own, management fees that eat deepe r into return

One of the most important times in life to bri ment portfolio is when you're nearing retirem

Size up spending. Years before you retire, determine what you

28 CONSUMER REPORTS

Your adult children may come to you for pay down debt, and cover education and rearing costs. You may have to learn to sa to say 'yes:

 MIST AKE: Owning dud annuities.

Be cautious about buying a deferred ann costs, they have surrender charges if you
3 0 CO NSUMER REPORTS

to invest. When people hear th at their fri fellow church memb ers have invested, th

GOING FAST. Making an investment opportunity seem

educational purposes. But investors who buy t investment advisers and brokers rather than d manager or a state's designated vendor are at a through middlemen could leave you with fewe
32 CONSUMER REPORTS

Op t out of pre- approved credit offers by c Industry Pre-Screening Opt-O ut Number Shred and dest roy. Before th rowing out files with your Social infor ma tion, address, and birth dates, be s cross-cut shredder. Use hard-drive erasing
34 CONS UMER REPO RTS

mIdentity stolen? Steps to take

If after reviewing your credit reports you suspec identity fraud , take the following steps:

Re po rt the crime.

How to make sure you have enough insura from the financial crunch of a long-term d

Start at work. See what disability cov Cover the shortfall. Consider buyin
36 CONSUMER REPORTS

mHow to pay less for auto in

resor t, call your state insurance departm ins urer to pay.

Many driver s stick with the same aut o- insu

in turn will report th e damage to the sh

SELF-DEFENSE: Before you buy, c policy. When goods arr ive, check them Contact the company if there's a prob
38 CONSUM ER REPORTS

 Call the cops. Your liability for unauthorized purchases mad can't exceed $50 und er federal law. But if you stolen before it's used, your liability is zero. Call the cards.

If you have health insurance, you probably hav insurer increasingly isn't picking up its maxim charges once your deductible has been met. Th based on "usual, customary and reason able" (U
40 CONSUMER REPORTS

Understand how much your deductib For example, a preventive checkup mi haven't met your deductible, but a sub doctor prescribes during that visit mi cover a visit but not a procedure perfo

are "medically needy." To enroll in Me your state department of social servic

42 CONSUMER REPORTS

If a medical bill seems unfairly high cover it, consider consulting a billing hourly or base their fee on the amou assessment of the problem at the out potential savings to proceed.

Credits are available if you buy a car or lightweight t operates on fuels other than gas or diesel, (electric v longer eligible). For alternative fuel vehicles, credits r $4,000 for a car weighing up to 8,500 pounds. For a two credits are available-up to $8,000 for vehicles u pounds and a fuel-economy credit of up to $4,000.
44 CONSUMER REPORTS

the AMT.

ED Is your favorite charity on

Before writing a check to a charity, be sur

could wind up spending a fortune trying them to have. Estate-planning essentials:

W ill. This document states who you want to

46 CONSUMER REPORTS

claim you were incompetent when the will wa

ED Relocating? Check your estat

If you plan to move to a different state, be sure

48 CONSUMER REPORTS