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March 2010

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Census Forms will soon be appearing in mailboxes. Check out the Census 2010 site for answers to questions, how the process works, and why the census is taken every 10 years.

1040 Central
Check out this section of the IRS website for tax law changes, tax fraud alerts, first-time homeowners credit, frequently asked questions, and much more.

Track down the best tax preparer
Looking for someone to prepare your taxes, then this article gives you tips on how to find the best one for your situation.

Watch Out! Here's what's not covered by the CARD Act
This article from Consumer Reports describes some practices that the CARD Act doesn't cover.

February 2010

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Debit-card 'skimming' scams
This article from Consumer Reports describes three steps you can take to protect your account data when using your debit card.

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, part of CDC, has many resources to help you prevent falls at home, keep your kids safe at play and sports, and take other steps to prevent unintentional injuries.

Be Wary of Valentine's Day Scams
An alert from the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs details three scams prevalent across the U.S.

Project Gutenberg
Here's a good resource for those winter weather days. This site has over 30,000 free e-books that can be downloaded to various devices.

January 2010

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Could Free Trial Offers Be 'Fee' Trial Offers in Disguise?
These tips from the FTC can help you determine if a free trial offer is right for you.

New Booster seat ratings: 9 BEST BETS & 6 GOOD BETS
These ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rate 60 booster seats on how well they provide lap and shoulder belt fit in a variety of vehicles.

Thinking of replacing an appliance? Then check out your state's Cash for Clunkers for Appliances rebate program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included funds for states to implement refund programs for the purchase of new energy-efficient appliances. Products eligible for rebates vary from state to state. These links provide more information about the programs.

Cash for Clunkers for Appliances FAQ from Consumer Reports

Approved Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savers website.

December 2009

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A holiday gift to all: Recycle your old electronics
If you're planning on replacing older electronics this holiday season, recycle them says this article and video from Consumer Reports.

Layaway: Another Way to Buy
This article from the FTC describes what questions to ask about plans and how to prevent problems.

Helpful Hints for Holiday Travelers
If you're flying this holiday season, here are some tips from the Transportation Security Administration that can help smooth your travel.

Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission
These tips can help you stay on budget while shopping smartly whether you're shopping online, by phone or mail, or locally.

November 2009

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The 2010 Census is fast approaching. Every household will receive a questionnaire in February or March 2010. Census phishing and email scams are already appearing. These tips from the Census Bureau will help you avoid the scams.

The 2010 Fuel Economy Guide is now available. The annual fuel cost estimates in the online 2008-2010 fuel economy guides are updated weekly to reflect the Energy Information Administration's current national average prices for gasoline and diesel fuel.

How to pay down your debt
This article from Consumer Reports evaluates 3 different strategies for paying off your credit card balances.

Net Cetera: Chatting With Kids About Being Online
This guide from OnGuard Online can help adults talk to kids about how they live their lives online and help them reduce the risks of socializing and communicating online.