To shop smart in supermarkets, it helps to be aware of the latest marketing strategies. Laurel Pallock with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Consumer Fraud Unit says some stores are experimenting with shopping carts that have embedded chips that slow them down in specific aisles. “It’s such a subtle thing that people won’t even notice as they’re moving, but they’ll still be lingering a little longer at certain products.”

Also, watch out for what’s known as the “halo effect” in a supermarket’s produce department. Ms. Pallock says because consumers associate fresh fruits and vegetables with good health and quality, manufacturers want their products placed nearby, even if it’s packaged food. “You shouldn’t be surprised if you see more items like cheese or vegetable juices close to the fresh stuff. Read more

The key to mortgage matchmaking is being a careful listener. The Diamond Certified mortgage brokers I talked to say a good loan agent will ask the right questions first and then find a loan at the lowest interest rate that fits your particular needs. To get a good match, ask questions and expect informative answers.

The loan agent will pre-qualify you, evaluating your financial situation and credit scores. Here are some strategies to use when shopping for a loan. Don’t make large purchases, such as a new car, while you are buying or refinancing a home, as this new debt may affect your credit scores and therefore the interest rate you are offered. Read more

Flea control all year round in California is important for your pets, especially puppies and kittens. Dr. Kristina Hansson, a Diamond Certified veterinarian with the North Bay Animal Hospital told me why. “So what can happen is with the chronic ingestion of blood by the fleas, it can actually lead to anemia and stunted growth because the animal is not growing as fast as it normally would with the nutrient loss from the blood.” Dr. Hansson doesn’t recommend flea collars for flea prevention. She suggests talking to your vet about which flea maintenance product, the kind you apply once a month, is best for your pet. Read more

Safety should come first when your home is being remodeled. According to Diamond Certified contractor Matthew W. Johnson from San Mateo County, your contractor should always make sure that windows which are removed are boarded up with both plastic and plywood when the carpenters finish for the day. Anyone trying to break in would need a power tool to remove the barriers.

Another great idea is to continue to use your alarm system, but create an alternate code for the contractor and his subcontractors. When the job is completed, you delete that code and the workers never have access to your personal code for the home alarm system. And finally, Mr. Johnson makes a special point of keeping all of his power tools locked up at night. Read more

As of last year, the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) started requiring airlines to collect certain information from all passengers. Under the Secure Flight Initiative, travelers now have to provide their full name, date of birth, gender, and a redress number, if they have one. (A redress number is for passengers who request a correction after having been repeatedly misidentified as being on the “No Fly” watch list.)

If you’re like many people, you go by different names—sometimes you’re Mary Rachel Smith, or you’re Mary R. Smith, or just Mary Smith. Small differences between your government-issued ID and your airline ticket shouldn’t impact your travel. However, to avoid problems, use the exact same name that appears on your ID to make your flight reservation. Read more

Financial institutions have tightened their lending criteria, so that makes having a good credit score more important than ever. The higher your score, the more likely your request for credit will be approved. And consumers with higher credit scores typically pay lower interest rates.

Here are some tips for increasing your score. Pay your bills on time and make up any past-due payments. Keep the outstanding balance on any credit account at less than 50% of your available credit line. Don’t open a lot of new credit accounts in a short period, and don’t close older, unused accounts—your credit history will appear shorter and your outstanding debt will increase relative to your available credit. Read more

If you or someone in your family has difficulty using a standard telephone, you may be eligible for a free phone that makes it easier to make and receive calls. The California Telephone Access Program (CTAP), sponsored by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), provides free devices to California residents who have difficulty hearing, speaking, moving, seeing or remembering due to an illness, disability or medical condition. There’s no income restriction, but you do need a doctor’s signature on your application.

The various types of phones and devices do everything from make voices louder and numbers easier to read to flash a light when a call is coming in and convert conversation to text. Read more