If you’re like me, you probably don’t think much about your home’s plumbing. Of course, the day the bathtub won’t drain or the toilet won’t flush, we’re reminded of just how dependent we are on free-flowing pipes. When the time comes to call in a professional, you’ll be relieved to have a great plumber programmed into your speed-dial. Although plumbing problems can be expensive and inconvenient, the right plumber will provide value for your money and make the repair process as painless as possible.I’m often asked what you should look for in a plumber. Based on interviews with both customers and plumbers, I’ve developed a “great plumber” checklist. Here it is:

A great plumber:
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Do you want to handle your personal finances like a professional accountant? According to Charles Sterck, Managing Partner of Sterck Kulik O’Neill Accounting Group, Inc., the most critical step in planning for your retirement is simply starting to save.

Get started by participating in your company’s 401k program and put money into your IRA today. Don’t wait until next April 15th when you’re looking for a tax deduction to open an IRA. Put money into this year’s IRA as soon as you can so that your money will grow tax free starting right now. This savings is not a rainy-day fund to be used for emergencies or to pay off credit cards. Treat the money in your retirement accounts as belonging to someone else: tell yourself that the account is owned by the future and not by you. Read more

We’re all familiar with the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution that were ratified in 1791. But have you ever heard of the Consumer’s Bill of Rights? President John F. Kennedy outlined them in a speech to Congress in 1962, at a time when the consumer movement was just blossoming. I think you’ll agree with me that these rights are still as important today as they were nearly 50 years ago when they were first articulated.

The six basic rights are:
1. The right to be safe. Manufacturers should cause no harm. The Consumer Product Safety Commission was formed in 1972 to uphold this right.
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You’ll be approached in a parking lot at one of the big discount stores. The dent repair impostor offers to fix a dent or scratch on the spot while you’re shopping. Bill Davis, owner of DentPro of Salinas & Santa Cruz, a Diamond Certified company, says when you come back to your car, it’s covered with white paste or wax. “They’ll tell you it needs to cure for about 4 hours.” Once you remove the paste later that day (you have to pay in advance for the repair), you’ll discover cracks in the paint or that very little was done to the car. You can’t track down the scammers either; the company business card has no phone number or address. Read more

Phony-check scams have become so widespread that consumer groups are using a new website to issue alerts and explain how the schemes work. The National Consumers League, in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and others, has launched www.fakechecks.org. You’ll find examples of the phony checks, video from victims and frequently asked questions.

The shocking thing is that the average loss for phony-check scam victims is between $3,000 and $4,000. The scam starts with a real-looking unsolicited check that comes through the mail. The letter describes an opportunity to take advantage of a foreign business offer, a foreign lottery or sweepstakes, or to cash in on a rental or work-at-home scheme. Usually, Read more

The passwords to your computer and online accounts are like the keys to your safe deposit box. In the wrong hands, they can be used to steal your money and your identity. Strong passwords – those that are virtually impossible to recreate, even using a special decoder program – will keep your assets and information safe and secure.

A strong password is one that appears to be a random string of characters, including letters, numbers and symbols. The longer your password is, the harder it is to decipher. When creating a password, don’t use personal information such as your birth date or dog’s name. Don’t use real words. Do consider creating a password derived from a “passphrase” that is easy for you to remember. Read more

A number of foods that we eat can be toxic for dogs if ingested. You may already know that chocolate is bad for them, especially chocolate with a high cocoa content. You should also make sure that you keep Macadamia nuts, rising bread dough, onions and garlic out of reach, according to Dr. Kristina Hansson, a Diamond Certified veterinarian with North Bay Animal Hospital. Fatty turkey and chicken skins are a no-no and may cause gastrointestinal disturbance or pancreatitis.

The last 2 items on the list of toxic foods may surprise you. Dr. Hansson says that grapes and raisins are extremely dangerous for your pet. “Many people aren’t aware that these are very toxic to dogs and can result in kidney failure. Read more