Consumerist
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southwest
personal finance
Don't Be Ashamed To Ask Friends Or Family For A Loan
Taking a private loan from friends or family can be a win-win proposition, not necessarily a shame-filled dish with a side order of failure. Private loans are an ideal way to reduce the amount you need to borrow from a bank—instead of paying loan application fees, processing fees and higher rates, you can save money while offering attractive yields to your friends and family. More »
government
CPSC Has Only One Full-Time Toy Tester
The CPSC is so underfunded that they can only afford one full-time toy tester, and his impact test area is located in the swing area behind the door to his cramped office, NYT reports.
The current administration has cut back the agency's budget during the past seven years, down to $62 million last year.
When Suzanne Barone, the CPSC former poison prevention head, quit in frustration, she said, "Buyer beware, — that is all I have to say."
Safety Agency Faces Scrutiny Amid Changes [NYT]
(Photo: Damon Winter)
lead
Meet The X-MET3000TXR+ Handheld Lead Detector
In response to growing concerns about toxic levels of lead in paint and metal on children's toys, Oxford Instruments has developed a hand held electronic lead detector, a veritable rock boulder on the tracks of the Chinese Poison Train.
The X-MET3000TXR+ is a X-ray fluorescence scanner. By examining how much the x-ray excites the particles, it can identify an object's chemical structure. No word on price, but a tool like this can give more accurate readings than rub-on home-based test kits, and significantly faster determinations than waiting for lab test results. UPDATE: A reader says these will cost you about $30,000.00. Excellent, now the rich can make sure the silver spoons they're birthing their children with in their mouths are unleaded.
X-MET3000TXR+ for RoHS compliance screening and QC of different components and materials [Oxford Instruments via The Raw Feed]
money
Lyn's 2-Person Budget Spreadsheet
Reader Lyn sent us a budget system he drafted that has worked well for his household, as well as friends and family.
His Excel sheet has two pay periods for each month and is pre-set up for two people. First, enter both paychecks into the column B. Then, put expenses in their respective categories. Make sure to change the tax formula (line 37) to reflect your income bracket.
The formulas then tabulate how much money you have left over. You can plug and play with the numbers to see the effect adjusting various expenses, like getting rid of cable, can have on your budget. By adding in additional items, you could even set budget goals for different discretionary categories, like movies, music, binge drinking, etc.
It's nothing fancy, but for a household trying to get a handle on their cash flow, Lyn's spreadsheet could be a great starting point for building a personal family budget system.
Download Lyn's budget here (XLS)
(Photo: Getty)
complaints
Thomas And Friends Railroading Parents On Shipping Charges For Recalled Toys
The maker of Thomas the Tank Engines recalled for lead poisoning promised to send a replacement toy and refund parents the full cost of shipping back the recalled toys, but several parents are angry after receiving less-than-full reimbursement checks.
Marlo & Elaine spent $5.25 and got back $4.60
Jill spent $3.03 and got back $1.81.
Carolyn spent $8.23 and got back $5.30.
Jeff spent $5.00 and got back $1.81.
Seems like RC2's shipping clerks may have gotten exposed to too much lead paint dust in the course of fulfilling their recall duties!
health
How To Detect Lead Poisoning
Amidst the lead paint recalls, parents are turning to home-based lead test kits to protect their children and families from lead poisoning.
Types of kits vary, but most work by applying a substance or swab to a suspected object, then watching for a color change.
Deborah Reff, manager of the health education unit of the childhood lead poisoning program at the county health department, told the Los Angeles Times she recommended LeadCheck Swabs and Lead Inspector.
However, if it shows up positive, it doesn't mean it has lead, and if it shows up negative, doesn't mean it doesn't either.
Blood tests are the only fool proof method to test for lead poisoning. Some local health departments offer free blood tests.
Likewise, professional labs are the best determinants of lead contaminated toys. Watch CPSC.gov for recall updates.
Concerned parents may not feel like waiting for the government to tell them what has lead in it. Children absorb up to 50% of the lead they encounter, vs. 10% for adults. Exposure to lead can lead to long-term neurological defects, and in extreme cases, death.
polls
Should Allowance Be Tied To Chores?
According to this Kiplinger column, 40% of parents say they don't link their kids' allowances to the chores they do.
trademarks
Tan Hill Inn 1, KFC 0: KFC Drops Legal Action Against Tiny British Pub
Only a few days after confirming that legal action would proceed against the tiny Tan Hiill Inn for the use of the trademarked term "Family Feast" on their once-a-year Christmas menu, KFC has changed its tiny chicken-sized mind. More »
cellphones
Save With Tmobile Employee Friends And Family Discount Program
Like Sprint, Tmobile also has an employee referral discount program. You can get savings on new
family auto mart
Great Moments In Commercial History: Family Auto Mart
video
The Remarkable Advertisements of Don Hertzfeldt
phonehacks
