Kansas.com: Consumer

Wal-Mart, Penney's roll out casual furniture

MARIA HALKIAS — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:38 CDT

Wal-Mart's new Canopy and J.C. Penney's new Linden Street home furnishings brands don't have the name recognition of an Ikea or a Pottery Barn, but they're going after the same customers.

Last month, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. mailed shoppers a 33-page Canopy catalog and launched the Web site www.canopyliving.com.

Online, the find-a-store function leads shoppers to Wal-Mart locations.

The catalog notes that items delivered to Wal-Mart stores have free shipping.

But the Wal-Mart name scarcely appears, by design. The company says it's trying to create a brand identity for Canopy, a line of ready-to-assemble furniture, bedding, rugs, lighting, dinnerware and table linens.

Think about possibilities before tossing items

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:40 CDT

Reusing and repurposing household items easily becomes a habit. Once you start, you'll question everything before you throw it away.

• Vinyl tablecloth: Can be used on the entryway floor. Position it felt side up during rainy days to keep your floors clean. The felt side catches the mud, dirt and water, and the vinyl side keeps your floors dry.

• Wine corks: Remove the glass from an old frame. Trace the glass onto foam core. Cut corks in half lengthwise, and glue the flat side onto foam core. You can glue them all horizontally or vertically, or alternate between the two. Place into your frame. Hang and use as a bulletin board.

• Cooking water: Instead of tossing it down the drain, use it in the garden.

• Candy containers: Use M&M tubes, Altoid tins and Tic Tac containers to hold quarters for parking meters, tolls, lunch money, emergency phone calls or the laundry machine. Use them to hold a few adhesive bandages for your purse or glove compartment. They can hold toothpicks, sugar substitutes when traveling and salt and pepper or spices when camping.

Testers screen sunscreens with new protection

DONNA KATO — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:42 CDT

Sunscreen is the one beauty product that we're convinced is an absolute necessity.

It's been beaten into us that the sun can cause terrible damage to complexions. The vanity in us took notice: Wear SPF-containing lotions if you don't want blotches and wrinkles and sagging skin.

A couple of years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new sunscreen compound that protects skin from shortwave ultraviolet A light and doesn't break down as easily as other products exposed to the sun.

Only available in Europe and Canada until 2006, Mexoryl SX was considered better because of its ability to block UVA light -- the harmful wrinkle-causing rays -- and because it lasts longer once on the skin.

Until recently, only one, La Roche-Posay's Anthelios, was available in the United States. Now with several Mexoryl SX-containing sunscreens on the market, we had four testers slather on four different brands. Did they feel super sun-safe?

Testers screen sunscreens with new protection

DONNA KATO — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:37 CDT

Sunscreen is the one beauty product that we're convinced is an absolute necessity.

It's been beaten into us that the sun can cause terrible damage to complexions. The vanity in us took notice: Wear SPF-containing lotions if you don't want blotches and wrinkles and sagging skin.

Invest right to boost savings for retirement

GAIL MARKSJARVIS — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

Look at the humble sum in your 401(k) or a 403(b) retirement savings plan at work.

Maybe you think it would look a little more encouraging if you could just get a decent raise and save more.

To be sure, more savings would help most people. But your failure to stash more cash for the future probably isn't all that's ailing your 401(k).

A recent study of 1 million 401(k) accounts by pension investment advisers Financial Engines shows that Americans are betraying their futures in two ways: Many aren't saving enough, but the majority also is doing such a poor job of investing they aren't giving their hard-earned savings a chance to bulk up.

In fact, with a little more investing savvy, the people in the study would be on course to have about 28 percent more wealth at retirement than they are now likely to have, if they have 20 years of investing to go.

DA warns of travel club scam

DEB GRUVER — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:42 CDT

Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston is warning consumers about a travel-related scam.

The scam works this way:

• The consumer receives a phone call or postcard inviting him or her to attend a hotel seminar to learn more about investing in a travel club.

• At the seminar, the consumer is encouraged to purchase "travel credits" for a certain amount and told that the credits are renewed every year and available until age 72.

• The scam artist promises to provide the consumer a kit that includes a user ID and password to access travel Web sites to purchase discounted travel packages.

Eau de teen boy: Body spray or cologne may be fine, say four girls -- but don't bathe in it

MELANIE B. GLOVER — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:42 CDT

When it comes to cologne and body spray, an important question teen boys must ask is: One squirt or 12?

Not all girls run to the side of a boy wearing Axe body spray, as portrayed in commercials, but certain scents can be appealing -- if they are handled with caution.

What does your own scent say about you? We asked four teen girls to do a blind smell test of four body sprays.

Before heading out on a date, check out what they had to say about these popular boys fragrances.

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Eau de teen boy: Body spray or cologne may be fine, say four girls -- but don't bathe in it

MELANIE B. GLOVER — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:23 CDT

When it comes to cologne and body spray, an important question teen boys must ask is: One squirt or 12?

Not all girls run to the side of a boy wearing Axe body spray, as portrayed in commercials, but certain scents can be appealing -- if they are handled with caution.

What does your own scent say about you? We asked four teen girls to do a blind smell test of four body sprays.

Before heading out on a date, check out what they had to say about these popular boys fragrances.

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Use these frugal substitutes in a pinch

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:38 CDT

If you're cooking and suddenly realize that you're out of an ingredient, it might be more practical to substitute something you have on hand.

Here's a handy reference of common food substitutions.

• Tomatoes: Roasted or fresh bell peppers.

• Eggs: Substitute half a mashed ripe banana and ¼ teaspoon baking powder or 3 tablespoons mayonnaise for each egg.

• Sour cream: Try ¾ cup yogurt plus 1 teaspoon of baking soda or ¼ cup butter to replace 1 cup of sour cream. Or combine 2/3cup dry milk, ¾cup water and 1 teaspoon vinegar.

'08 WEDDINGS BY THE NUMBERS

KARALEE MILLER — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:41 CDT

INDULGING THE COUPLE WHILE THEY'RE ON THEIR HONEYMOON IS JUST ONE OF MANY WEDDING GIFT TRENDS

Each summer, wedding season revs into high gear. On the flip side of all the "I do" details are the wedding guests. A few hundred people for each affair must decide what fabulous way to honor the couple as they enter into wedded bliss.

Traditionally, gift registries have been the salvation for guests at a loss. Registries are the bride and groom's way of electronically saying "here's what we want."

However, in recent years, more and more couples are requesting gifts outside the norm. Gone are the usual suspects of fine linens, elaborate china and sleek stemware. In their place are outside-the-gift-box options that cater to the couple's essential needs, ultimate adventures and atypical desires. Here are a few new ideas for "something new."

Money

MP3 players losing muscle

TROY WOLVERTON — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:41 CDT

The MP3 player industry -- otherwise known as the iPod market -- seems about to go from being a rock star to a has-been.

While still strong, sales have slowed and even begun to decline in some markets. Prices, particularly on the low end, are plunging, typically an indicator of slacking demand.

Even the mighty iPod, which revived Apple and once vied with the Mac as the company's most important product line, has seen a marked decline in sales growth and attention.

The market "has slowed down a bit," said Ross Rubin, an analyst with market research firm NPD Group. "There's a strong argument for saturation."

But the industry faces more than just a shrinking base of new customers. Newer features like video playback and wireless networking have done little to lure old customers to buy new devices. Meanwhile, after years of hype, music-playing cell phones -- most notably Apple's iPhone -- are starting to gain traction as iPod replacements.

Weigh the pros and cons of variable annuities

DAN SERRA — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 01:42 CDT

Sales of variable annuities have been on the decline since 2007. Savers have either sought other options as stock market woes dragged down returns or insurers have had their hand slapped too many times for inappropriate sales. Instead, savers are flocking to fixed annuities, which have soared 35 percent in the first quarter of this year alone, according to a Beacon Research study of insurers.

Variable annuities, which sunk 13 percent last year after increasing 34 percent in 2006 according to the Insurance Information Institute, allow an insurance company to invest contributions, based on a saver's risk tolerance, in stocks, bonds or other investments. If those investments perform poorly, the saver's balance also declines. Fixed annuities pay a set sum depending on amount invested without passing on investment risk to the saver. Therefore, the numbers point to more savers opting for safety rather than betting on higher returns.

Because of the way variables vary, state insurance offices have received complaints from seniors that they were not told of the risks or were sold annuities with surrender charges lasting seven to 10 years. If they wanted to withdraw the money, the "surrender" fee took a chunk of change from their money. Fortunately, the insurance companies are doing a better job judging what type of annuity is not appropriate, but rogue salespeople still exist.

Because of its checkered past, FINRA, the agency that regulates investment sales, said this month it is making variable-annuity rulemaking and enforcement a priority this year in an effort to protect baby boomers that are targets of salespeople.

Despite the criticism, variable annuities could have a role if used properly. Here's a look at what savers need to know about the pros and cons of variables and how they work:

Ways to chill out on your energy use and save

KEVIN G. DEMARRAIS — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:40 CDT

With gasoline prices hitting record highs almost every day this spring, consumers may have missed the other depressing energy-related news:

Electric rates went up two weeks ago by as much as 17 percent, just in time for the recent heat wave. Fuel oil is nearing $5 a gallon. And gas companies are seeking a 20 percent price hike, just in time for the winter chill.

What's a consumer to do?

Short of generating your own power, the best way to deal with spiraling energy costs is by adopting a "less is better" philosophy.

A few small changes in your daily habits can make a big difference in your budget.

Home equity lines of credit get the pinch

ELLEN YAN — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:38 CDT

Homeowners have been getting their home-equity lines of credit frozen or pared down by lenders trying to cut risks.

It happened to Suzanne Dzolan, whose $200,000 limit was halved soon after she paid what she used to redo the house.

"It's almost hurt me to be someone who was a good borrower," said Dzolan, a mortgage broker. "They just felt they could take the luxury and cut it."

Banks and other lenders, wary after the subprime collapse, have been suspending equity lines of credit because homeowners' debts have exceeded their homes' property values, communities have seen significant declines in home prices and borrowers have little equity in their homes.

Stopping the flow of cash from such credit lines also gives lenders more liquidity and frees potential capital to be used on less risky loans.

Celebrate Dad with a book -- and a drink

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:38 CDT

Kids ask the darnedest questions, and often dads are the ones who must come up with the answers. With that in mind, Wendell Jamieson has come up with some of the most intriguing questions, and finds answers from a variety of experts.

"Father Knows Less: One Dad's Quest to Answer His Son's Most Baffling Questions" (Perigree, $13.95) is filled with the questions of Jamieson's son and children from around the world:

• Why do ships have round windows?

• Why is red for stop and green for go?

• Does Mona Lisa wear shoes?

Brokered CDs may be trouble if bank closes

SUSAN TOMPOR — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:39 CDT

Putting money into an FDIC-insured certificate of deposit called a brokered CD could seem like a no-brainer. It's insured, after all, right?

But some savers found unsettling hurdles with so-called brokered CDs issued through one distressed Arkansas bank that brought in money from savers nationwide.

Federal regulators on May 9 closed ANB Financial National Association in Bentonville, Ark. It was the third closure this year of an FDIC-insured bank.

But more than two weeks later, many savers with the brokered CDs still do not have access to their money.

It is an unusual situation, but one worth talking about as savers push the limits to find more attractive interest rates and some banks run into financial troubles.