For many Americans, giving to charities is almost as important during the holidays as celebrating with family. As a result, mailboxes often are stuffed with charitable solicitations as well as catalogs and shopping circulars this time of year. Whether you celebrate or not, giving before Jan. 1 means your gifts can be deductible on your 2021 tax return...

In this year's red-hot job market, competition for seasonal employment this holiday season will be fierce. Shipping companies and online retailers like Amazon have seen their business boom as the pandemic has driven online shopping through the roof, and it is expected they will hire thousands of seasonal employees this holiday season. Traditional brick-and-mortar retailers also are hiring seasonal workers...

As temperatures drop, Better Business Bureau (BBB) urges consumers to make sure their homes and vehicles are ready for winter. The last thing anyone wants is to be left out in the cold when winter hits. By doing a few simple things, you can keep your family safe from the elements. Take steps to avoid waking up to a faulty heating system or frozen pipes. Make sure your vehicle to be reliable in adverse conditions...

As holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, you may be considering gift cards for friends or relatives who have everything or those who live far away. Gift cards are an easy solution to people who are hard-to-please or already have everything. And they’re everywhere – at the drugstore, supermarket, quick shop and department stores. E-gift card options make it an even easier gift, not to mention a safer one during COVID-19...

Throughout November, Americans honor military veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. Better Business Bureau is advising consumers to be careful when donating to charities that emphasize heartbreaking stories of disabled veterans...

The holidays are all about celebrating what’s good, but that doesn’t mean scammers are taking a vacation. Better Business Bureau (BBB) takes this early opportunity to remind consumers that con artists see busy, over-burdened shoppers as likely targets for their schemes...

Halloween is a time for tricks and treats, but shopping for decorations and costumes shouldn’t be a scary experience. Shoppers should rely on trusted merchants and research unfamiliar stores or websites before buying...

Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings with it a wave of appeals to donate to breast cancer charities. advises consumers to research charities and cause-related products carefully before making a donation or buying a pink-ribbon product...

Whether you’re getting ready to sell a house, move or just want to make more room where you live, a garage sale can be a good way to get rid of unwanted items while realizing some cash...

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many areas of society this year, but it hasn’t put an end to scammers trying to contact you through the telephone...

As leaves begin to fall and garden plants go to seed, homeowners may be thinking about hiring a lawn or landscape firm to clean up yards before winter. Better Business Bureau advises homeowners to check companies out carefully before hiring them, and ask for a contract that says what will be done and when...

One of the hardest and most important choices working parents can make is deciding who will care for their children while they’re at work. The COVID-19 pandemic complicates the choice, as young children are not eligible to be vaccinated against the virus yet and safety considerations may vary widely among facilities. Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) advises parents to take plenty of time to find safe, reliable child care that suits their children and schedules...

As more and more public places begin requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to enter, scammers are taking advantage of the news to offer phony “vaccine passports.” Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) cautions consumers to give careful scrutiny to any offers of digital proof of vaccination, and further warns that falsified proof of vaccination is both unethical and potentially unsafe...

During humanitarian crises like those that have emerged from the recent earthquake in Haiti and political instability in Afghanistan, many people are sympathetic to the victims and want to help them...

With school starting, now is a great time to consider what tutoring needs your child might have during the year ahead, whether it’s catching up in a subject area or preparing for a standardized test...

With home sales through the roof during the COVID-19 pandemic, home inspectors are in high demand, since their work is a critical step in the purchase process. Only a thorough, professional inspection of the home’s physical structure and mechanical condition, from roof to foundation, can uncover the issues you’ll need to watch for as a homeowner and potentially discuss with the seller...

Parents spend billions of dollars a year on their back-to-school and college shopping. Many retailers capitalize on the rush to get ready by running big back-to-school sales...

For college freshmen leaving home for the first time, summer can be a frenzied time of shopping for dorm room essentials, packing up clothes and saying goodbye to high school friends. In the midst of this hustle and bustle, parents need to make time to talk to their students about money and protecting themselves against identity theft while they’re on or off campus during the pandemic...

Unemployment, evictions, foreclosures: The economic uncertainties COVID-19 created for many families have countless consumers on the move. Many may be looking for storage units to facilitate these changes in living situation. It’s important to find a trustworthy storage facility, especially for prized possessions or antiques. Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises doing careful research before committing your items to a storage facility...

As COVID-19’s impact on daily life lessens, student loan borrowers whose repayments were paused due to COVID-19 may be considering their options for resuming payments on this potentially life-altering debt. This may lead some borrowers to look into debt consolidation. Better Business Bureau (BBB) cautions borrowers to research these options carefully and not give in to the temptation to seek a quick fix that could turn out to be a scam...