Have you been thinking about installing new windows? John Gorman, owner of Save Energy Company, a Diamond Certified company, says if you buy double pane energy-saving windows now, you will qualify for a maximum of $1500 in federal tax credits. You’re allowed to deduct 30% of the cost of the materials through 2009 and 2010. For more detailed information on the tax credits, go to www.energystar.gov. Double pane windows have improved a lot over the years, according to Mr. Gorman. Besides reducing your energy bills, they eliminate mold and mildew. People find that the new windows reduce street noise, which is a huge benefit. New tinting blocks harmful UV rays, so they protect your rugs and furniture from sun damage. Read more

Yes, I did a really stupid thing. I lost my car keys – INSIDE my house somewhere. After looking for them for two weeks with no luck, I gave up and zoomed down to my local hardware store to get a copy made of the one and ONLY key to my 1997 Infiniti i30.

This simple transaction made me love this local business even more than I did before. The young man not only made the key in minutes, but he also took some extra time to give me additional consumer advice. Here’s what he said:

#1. Try the new key ASAP. Try it in the ignition AND to unlock the door. Read more

Considering how many people get into trouble with credit cards, using a debit card can be a good way to make sure you live within your means. But, there are some disadvantages to using a debit card.

First, debit cards don’t offer the same protections that credit cards do when it comes to damaged, defective, undelivered or unsatisfactory merchandise. Credit card regulations give cardholders the right to withhold payment while they dispute a charge. But, because debit card purchases are typically treated as cash transactions, the buyer has far less leverage. Particularly when shopping online, it’s advisable to use a credit card. Also, a credit card is better at protecting you in cases of fraud because you can dispute unauthorized charges without paying for them. Read more

You may not think too much about backing up data until the day comes when your hard drive crashes. That's when I got the wake-up call, thinking I had lost everything – photos, work documents, records, letters, music. Rick Sutherland, owner of ClickAway, a Diamond Certified company, says most people are like me and don't realize how easy back up is, and how expensive data recovery can be. To back up data, some people use an external hard drive, where data is put onto another disc and stored in a safety deposit box, or somewhere else outside your home. You can also use an automatic on-line back up service, which is especially useful for saving data on a daily basis. Read more

The scammer places a help-wanted ad at a popular job-search site offering a work-at-home job. You fill out an employment application that asks for a Social Security number and your date of birth. Then you're told you got the job! Packages arrive at your home with directions to repackage the items and ship them overseas, using your own money which will be repaid. The original packages were paid for with fraudulent credit cards, something you don't find out until later. Next, you're told that you will be paid by cashier's check. But here's the catch. The check will be written for more than the amount owed. You deposit the check and forward the difference to the company's overseas bank account. Read more

What is the single best question you can ask a camp director when shopping for a camp?  I got some good advice from Andrew Townsend, Camp Director for Kennolyn Camps, a Diamond Certified company.  “Who are your staff, how are they hired and who supervises them?  In this three-part question, you get to the very core of what a parent cares about most: who’s caring for my child? Fancy facilities and exciting programs are no good without quality, trained staff to supervise the campers.”
A well-run camp should have clear plans for how to handle emergencies like fires and earthquakes, although the law doesn’t require this. Mr. Townsend says if the camp has water sports and activities, Read more

Got a Noise Problem? Here’s What to Do? Experts like Diamond Certified’s Paul Asadov, President of Zeus Remodeling, know exactly what to do to reduce noise problems in a home. The most common complaint is about the sound of footsteps in multi-family dwellings. Mr. Asadov explains that the solution to “impact” noise is to replace the original drywall with a detached drywall made of two layers, where one layer is laminated with noise control material. You can also add soundboards inside the ceiling to reduce noise. If your noise problem is street or freeway noise, Mr. Asadov suggests reinforcing the weak spots – doors and windows. Hollow core doors are replaced with solid noise control doors with several acoustical layers inside. Read more