Being a conscientious consumer isn’t always easy—between monitoring your credit report, reading the fine print on all offers before signing and scrutinizing per-unit costs on merchandise, you’ve got plenty of financial matters to keep your mind occupied.

And, because you work hard to take care of yourself, it’s important to learn how to usefully complain.

The Difference between Complaining & Whining

Many Americans are afraid to complain when something goes wrong because they don’t want to seem rude or ungrateful, but some situations merit complaint—and can both benefit you and save others from negative experiences.

Here are some guidelines for effective complaining about defective goods.

• Protect yourself and your family. Some botched buys (the canned food that smelled strange, the light bulb that had a crack in it) are health and safety hazards. If you discover that a recent purchase has spoiled before its time, you should complain.
• Be polite and concerned. If your complaint involves an isolated incident or purchase, call the retailer in question and explain your situation calmly. Ask about the policy for such cases. In addition to potentially getting a refund or replacement, you’ll be able to alert the manager to what may be a larger problem.
• Act quickly. Report any defects as soon as you notice them, while you still have a receipt handy. Swift action may also prevent other consumers from having to deal with the faulty product.
• Consider the cost. If the prospect of lodging a complaint seems too unpleasant, consider the amount of money you stand to lose by throwing away your defective purchase.

Larger-Scale Complaints: Getting the Government Involved

While sending back your soup or asking for a refund on some tainted beef may seem marginally important (after all, such items only affect a small group of people), filing complaints about fraudulent practices and scams could help protect millions of other consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission, a government agency designed to protect consumer rights, allows Americans to file complaints online about businesses and organizations.

If you’ve had dealings with a group that you think may have scammed or cheated you, do not hesitate to file a complaint. When the FTC receives a certain volume of complaints about a given organization, it can launch investigations and take legal action to prevent the group from doing further damage.

In some cases, the FTC even settles with scammers and requires such organizations to pay restitution to the individuals who were harmed.

If your finances have been harmed and you need help, consider speaking with a bankruptcy lawyer.

New reports show that the economy is turning around—now you can congratulate all your friends who made the recession so great! Send this quirky economic ecard to let them know their contribution to history is appreciated.

Economic ecard: This country can’t have an economic downt_rn without U

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Whether you’re unemployed, underemployed or just need some extra spending cash, you may be able to find seasonal employment this winter—if you’re willing to work for it.

Here are some hints on where to look and what steps to take to make yourself attractive to potential employers.

Working in Retail

The holiday shopping season traditionally begins on Black Friday and runs through the New Year. And the increase in buyers means sellers often need more staff on hand. If you apply for a retail job, consider these pointers:

• Customer service knowhow: Even if you don’t have specific retail experience, mention times when you’ve had to deal with people – especially people under stress or pressure.
• An open schedule: Flexibility is key for most people looking for holiday staff. Indicating that you’re only available for limited hours will hurt your chances of getting hired.
• Face time with workers: When you apply, try to do so in person, so you can make a (positive) connection with a potential employer. A pleasant conversation can say far more than any résumé in retail.
• Go local: Consider applying at small, independently owned stores – these often have a smaller pool of available workers on payroll and may be more likely to need new people at the holidays.

Beyond Retail: Industries that Might Be Hiring

If a mall full of screaming children and stressed-out shoppers isn’t your cup of tea, you may want to seek seasonal employment outside retail. Luckily, other industries also hire during the holidays.

• The gift senders: Packaging and shipping companies (think UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, etc.) are also often swamped during the holiday season. After all, retailers, online shoppers and long-distance gift givers all depend on delivery services to get their merchandise and presents where they need to go.
• The merry makers: The weeks that span traditional school (and college) breaks are, like the summer, prime time for many vacationers. This means that hot tourist spots (ski lodges, beach areas, etc.) may need extra employees. And even travel agents or booking services may need desk-type help to keep up with increased demand.
• The vacation takers: Because so many people take time off between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, many offices hire temporary employees to fill the vacancies. Applying at a temp agency could provide you with week- to month-long stints in more office-type settings than other types of holiday work.

Your Holiday Jobs

Are you looking for extra employment over the holidays? What tip and experiences have you had finding part-time, seasonal work? Leave a comment and let me know!

If you’re like me, you usually don’t officially start holiday shopping until… well, until after you should, let’s say. I’ve been making a list in my head for about two months now, but I’m only just starting the legwork of figuring out my holiday budget. Here’s how I manage to keep the last few months of the year as stress-free as possible.

Make a List; Check It Three Times

Begin your holiday shopping by listing all your expenses. The list should include:

• Gifts: People’s names and the amount of money you can realistically spend on them.
• Travel: Visiting friends, family and outlet malls all cost money. So does parking at some shopping destinations.
• Food & drink: You’ll probably be expected to attend a few holiday parties, so determine how much you can afford in this category so you know when to say no.
• Postage: If you send holiday cards or plan to ship gifts to faraway loved ones, remember to factor in the cost of stamps.
• Decorations and wrapping: My grandmother notoriously recycled wrapping paper, which I thought was incredibly strange until the first time I had to buy something that would only be thrown away.
• Charitable donations: This is the time of year that you’ll be asked to fork over cash to good causes, so it may be smart to decide early who gets your money and how much they’ll receive.

And remember that the holiday season generally includes a few unforeseen expenses, like a group gift for your boss or replacement Christmas lights. The important thing to remember is to set a limit and stick to it. This may mean you have to skip a few events, but you’ll thank yourself when you get your credit card bills in January.

Plan to Save (And Haggle!)

Once you know your budget, look for places you can trim costs.

• Bake & shop sales: Many grocery stores have sales on holiday-type baking items around this time of year. If you’re kitchen-savvy, fudge, cookies and cupcakes can make great (and economical) gifts.
• Plan ahead: This can save you mega money on postal costs, especially if you plan to shop online or ship gifts. Don’t pay for overnight rates when you don’t have to!
• Recycle: My parents often wrapped gifts for us in color comics. We loved it, and so will any environmentalist on your list.
• Negotiate: Now is a great time to try to get independent retailers to lower prices. Shop when the store’s not too busy and ask for a discount for buying multiple items, paying in cash, buying slightly damaged goods, or based on a competitor’s coupon.
• Research: Before you head out the door (or to the online checkout), make sure you’ve done some digging to find out what prices you can expect to pay.

If your holiday spending gets out of control, bankruptcy may help you get back on track.

Struggling to find the right words to comfort a friend who’s been laid off? Let this economic ecard remind them that you’ll always be there… figuratively speaking.

Economic ecard: In this difficult time, I want you to know that you’re not alone. …except during the day when everyone else goes to work and you have to stay home. Alone.

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Will I really save money in the winter?

The calendar says mid-October, but it feels more like the middle of winter. Here in Chicago it’s cold, windy and rainy. I’d love to do nothing more tonight than go home, grab a blanket and cruise Netflix.

My budget thinks this is a great idea. And the thought of saving money because I’ll be staying in more is almost enough to warm me up.

But then I realize that, like previous years, my spending won’t so much decline this winter as it will shift. I’ll save in some areas and splurge in others – well, OK, heat isn’t necessarily a splurge.

I took a closer look at some of my personal seasonal spending habits and saw a few clear trends:

Summer

• I spend more on entertainment in the summer. Hey, summer up here is short and you’ve got to take advantage: Baseball, block parties, music festivals, patios.
• I spend less on transportation. The nice weather makes it easy to walk or bike. Even entertainment can be cheap, as a day in the park doesn’t cost anything.
• Energy bills are low. A fan and an open window is usually enough to keep me cool.

Winter

• I spend less on entertainment. As I said above, on many winter nights I’m perfectly content to stay warm with a movie, book or board game.
• I spend more on transportation. When it’s 0 degrees, a Cab ride is heaven.
• I spend way more on heat. Naturally, I’m pretty conscious when it comes to turning up the gas. I wear sweaters inside and use blankets and even an old fashioned hot water bottle. But you can still burn through a lot of gas just getting your house above 70 degrees. Also, since I’m home more, I’m using more lights, keeping the TV and computer on longer and even cooking more – and all of this means higher energy bills.

By changing a few of my habits I’m able to adjust for annual increases in basic costs. But just because I get by doesn’t mean I’m saving as much as I could.

So as the weather decides to skip fall and head straight into winter, now is a good time to reevaluate my seasonal spending habits.

Old habits die hard, and they can also lead us into debt. But by taking advantage of the changing weather and our natural changes in behavior we might have more success in dropping bad habits and starting new ones.

For example, some of my fixed costs aren’t up for discussion at any time of year. I want a good Internet connection at home. However, because it’s just now getting cold, I’ve yet to take my first cold weather cab of the year. I could make a resolution to wear another layer, stand closer to the heat lamps and stay away from extra cab rides.

Most of my cab rides are around $8-10. If I cut out just 5 rides a year that could be $50 in my pocket. A small sacrifice could result in a big gain.

What are some of your seasonal spending habits? As the trees are dropping leaves, maybe now is a good time to drop some of your worst spending habits.

Can bankruptcy help you reduce your bills and clear your debt?

Why No-Spend Days Work (for me)

A while back, while reading some of my favorite personal finance blogs, I came across the idea of having a “no-spend” day, the goal of which is to make it a full 24 hours without spending a cent.

At first, I was reluctant about the idea. What about bus fare, bills, or rent? Doesn’t simply heating my apartment count as “spending,” even if I pay the price later in the month? If I’m contributing to my 401(k), doesn’t that mean I’m “spending” some of my day’s earnings on my retirement?

The answer to those questions, obviously, is no. These types of “passive” spending are a matter of life. The key to a no-spend day is to cut “active” spending—to not open your wallet for anything that you may feel you need that day.

Many skeptics say that no-spend days simply put off spending for a day, and any items  that you would have spent on will simply be purchased the next day. However, I’ve found it to be just the opposite.

Like Fasting, For Your Wallet

Think of it like fasting for a day: After skipping breakfast, lunch and dinner, you’ll probably be very hungry the next day. And you’ll likely eat more the next day that you would on a normal day.

But will you eat six full meals the next day? Probably not.

And even if you do, that’s fine, too. After the second, third, or fourth time, though, you’ll learn have the discipline to fast.

And so it is with a no spend day. Maybe you’ll put off buying a few groceries, or mailing a package—and you’ll simply spend that money the next day. But if you stay home reading a book instead of going out with friends, that’s money in your wallet!

Learn about reducing your debt by filing bankruptcy.

No-Spend Day Tips

So how can you have a no-spend day? Here are a few tips I’ve collected:

• Drink office coffee: Sure, you may miss out on your morning ritual, but skip the expensive chain on the corner and get your coffee in the break room.
• Sack your lunch: Bringing a lunch from home is a great way to cut spending—and calories. Cook some pasta the night before, or put together a simple sandwich and carrots. Just be sure to make enough so you aren’t tempted to hit the vending machine.
• Change your commute: Trying biking or carpooling to avoid having to pay for gas, bus fare, or highway tolls on the way to work.
• Grab a free weekly newspaper: If you’re used to reading the daily news during the day—and paying for the paper—try the local “alternative” paper for a different perspective on the news. Most are free, and some even publish daily.
• Have a dinner party: This may take some planning (and some pre-purchasing), but having a night in will help keep you from spending on dining out at night. Invite friends over for a pot-luck to help lower the cost for everyone.

How about you? Have you tried no-spend days? Did they work? What was the hardest part about making it a full day without spending?

In scouring the Internet for new tricks for saving and making money, I came across the website Expotv.com. It’s got some pretty neat features for those of us interested in making money and/or making sure we spend it in smart ways. Here’s the deal.

How It Works

• You start an account. When you sign up with Expotv.com, you fill out a profile with information about yourself. This always creeps me out a bit online, but this site doesn’t ask for anything too personal.
• The company sends you email invitations. The invitations offer you an opportunity to try a new product or complete surveys or other activities on the site. You get invites based on the information in your profile.
• You respond to the invitation. If you respond in time, you could qualify to receive a free sample of the product in question. The product is yours to keep.
• You review the product. The catch here is that, by accepting the product, you agree to create and post a video review of it.
• You access online video reviews. The site currently has thousands of user-generated video reviews – and not all of them are positive. They’re generally honest, no-frills assessments of what real consumers think of real products.
• You earn points. If you receive an invitation to complete a survey or another activity, you can do so to earn points. As you accumulate these, you can redeem them to buy gift certificates and other products.

The site works because it allows real people to give their real opinions about real stuff. And you can benefit in two specific ways:

1. Learn from other people’s experiences. Thinking about buying a new product? Not sure if you want to drop the money? This may be a good place to start your search. The site has reviews for everything from laundry detergent to electronics, so you can glean a lot from the information they provide.
2. Get free stuff for spending some time reviewing products. If you get a real thrill from free products and have enough time on your hands to create video reviews, you can make this site work for you financially.

If you’re interested in joining, be sure to read through their FAQ section. The questions and answers are direct and fairly short, and they give a good idea of how the site could work for you.

Learn more about bankruptcy.

Struggling to find the right words to comfort a friend who’s unemployed? Let this light-hearted economic ecard do the talking for you!

Economic ecard: I heard the unemployment line was a great place to meet chicks!

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You’ve probably noticed that summer has ended, which means earlier sunsets, more colorful leaves and colder temperatures (and, if you live near me, grumpier neighbors).

And while it may be getting chilly, the really cold weather hasn’t started quite yet, which means it’s the right time to prepare your home and family for the frigid months ahead.

The Debtress’s Must-Do Pre-Winter Checklist

Before worrying about the little things (like whether your convertible mitten-gloves match your scarf), it’s important to take care of the big ones. Now is the time to check your home’s insulation, caulk cracks in outside walls, seal your windows and weather-strip your doors.

A visit to a hardware store or online search should help you determine what your house may need. And, while this will require you to invest some money upfront, you’ll almost certainly save more than that cost in heating bills.

Now for the less-familiar suggestions:

• Switch to flannel: Flannel sheets make bedtime in winter a much less traumatic experience, because they don’t feel cold when you first lie down. They’re durable, too.
• Have a nightcap: In the olden days, people wore hats to bed to keep warm. If you’re afraid of looking silly while you sleep, you could wear a hooded top or just long sleeves and pants.
• Brew some tea: Tea comes in a variety of tasty flavors, from the ho-hum to the extraordinary. And, since both caffeine-loaded and caffeine-free types are available, a pot of tea is a great way to heat up at any time of day. (Hint: trick your kids into loving tea by hosting “tea parties” and serving “crumpets.” I usually use animal crackers.)
• Eat warm: Don’t just drink your heat – eat it, too. Winter is a great time for oatmeal, soup, stew, crock pot recipes – anything with the word “simmer” in the recipe, really. After baking with the oven, prop it open while it cools, to let its heat disperse into the house.
• Put on a sweater. Yes, you hated this advice when you got it as a kid. But dressing in layers is one easy way to save on heating costs.
• Keep blankets handy. Draping a fleece throw on sofa-backs and easy chairs adds a touch of coziness and keeps loungers toasty.
• Get some slippers. You can keep your feet pleasantly warm without tracking winter slush and mud inside – just get a warm pair of slippers to keep by the door.
• Work the fireplace. If your home has a fireplace, use it to cut down on gas or electricity costs. But make sure you close the flue afterward and have heat-trapping components in the chimney (some sources suggest a “lamanced damper”).
• Get moving. If you have kids, turn on tunes and start a dance party. If you don’t, shake it to your favorite hits. It may feel silly at first, but when that warm blood starts pumping, you won’t regret it.

Any other tips for beating the chilly weather that won’t make me file bankruptcy? Let me know!